Current issues in the farm sector of the tea industry in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka holds a substantial place in the global tea market as a leading tea producer and exporter. Around 5% of the total global tea production comes from Sri Lanka; the world’s fourth largest producer and the third largest exporter covering about 15% of global exports in recent few years (International Tea Committee 2019). The Sri Lankan tea industry provides livelihood for many people in the country and plays a significant role in the economy (Thushara 2015; Shyamalie 2015b). The green-leaf production sector plays a critical role in enhancing competitiveness of the industry in the global market by determining the levels of national productivity. Recently, competitiveness has declined sh..