The National Tea Planters’ Association has criticised the government’s QR-based fertiliser subsidy system as inefficient, arguing that direct price reductions would better serve smallholder tea growers.
Association President Saman Geeganage said previous subsidies failed to reach many growers and often arrived at the wrong time. Tea planters require fertiliser four times a year — at least 150 kg per acre — but government releases occur only roughly every six months, creating supply gaps during critical application windows.
Eligibility criteria also present hurdles. Growers must prove a monthly harvest average of 150 kg, a target frequently missed due to chronic labour shortages in the plantation sector. Geeganage suggested removing taxes on tea fertiliser instead, which would allow planters to purchase inputs when needed at lower market prices.
The cost burden has intensified sharply. A 50 kg bag of fertiliser now costs Rs. 12,000, up from Rs. 9,500 before the Middle East energy crisis drove a Rs. 2,500 spike. The government announced a one-time additional subsidy of Rs. 5,000 per 50 kg bag through the QR-based tracking system, but planters remain sceptical about its practical effectiveness.
Deputy Plantation Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep said these specific concerns had not previously been raised and that he intended to propose concessions for planters at a ministry meeting on Thursday.
The criticism adds to a broader chorus from the sector. Tea smallholders have separately argued that the government’s 25,000 MT fertiliser allocation covers less than 60 percent of what is needed for a single application cycle.
Source: Hiru News.
