News
SL looking at mechanical tea harvesting to combat labour scarcity
by Chanka Jayasinghe
Sri Lanka’s Tea Board, fearing labor shortages, has initiated mechanized tea harvesting with no quality or production loss expected, E.A.J.K. Edirisinghe, Commissioner of the Tea Board said He said the Tea Research Institute (TRI) has already carried out research collaborating with Japan, and identified that efficiency can be improved, while preserving the same production capacity in estates.
“Machine plucking and hand plucking are two different techniques. When you do hand plucking only, the best buds will be plucked. When plucking by machine, we will train the bush for the machine by grooming it,” Edirisinghe told reporters at a media briefing last week. “Then every 15 days, there will be new buds because of the way we groomed the bush.”
He said currently 55 lands in each TRI division have been cultivated with a mechanized tea harvesting model and the cultivators are asked to grow their tea according to the new model.
However, in a publication last year, the TRI mentioned that none of the mechanized harvesting machines tested in Sri Lanka could harvest tea leaves selectively, leaving tender shoots on the bush.
The harvested crop contained mature foliage and twigs etc. which had be removed by manual sorting.Average output of machines is in the range between 50 (small machines) and 350 (large machines) kg/day. But, the sorting and cleaning process need more labor, industry experts say.Machine plucking extends the frequency of harvesting (plucking round) due to non-selective harvesting of leaf. Industry experts say tea yield under mechanical harvesting could fall 30-50 percent in comparison to manual harvesting.
Officials from Planters Association of Ceylon have said machine tea harvesting was tested, but it cannot be implemented in Sri Lanka due to the damage it does to the bush.However, tea board officials said no production will be lost if the bush is first groomed to suit mechanized harvesting.
“If you harvest a previously hand plucked bush by machine, then yes the damage will be great and yes there will be a drop around 20-30 percent,” Edirisinghe said.
“But when you start plucking after grooming, the buds will break on the plucking surface and there will be no damage,” he said, adding that countries like Kenya, Japan and Malaysia use the method without any drop in quality and quantity.Tea Board and Tea Small Holding Development Authority (TSHDA) will provide 437,000 rupees per acre of tea land for those who follow the new model along with a special irrigation system.
“That does not mean hand plucking will be stopped. When there is no labour, we can use machines,” Edirisinghe said.
“The reason why we are doing this is if we ever have to go for mechanical harvesting, then we will have to remove existing plantation and plant anew to adapt to the new order. (Economy Next)
The second day of the “Vesak Bhakti Gee Saraniya”, held in parallel with the “Buddha Rashmi Vesak Kalapaya” jointly organized by the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office, commenced on Tuesday (13) at 6:30 p.m. under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat premises.
The evening featured musical performances by renowned vocalist Ilyas Beg and the Sri Lanka Air Force Bhakti Gee Troup, accompanied by the Air Force Band. A Vesak lantern exhibition was also held at the venue. The event was attended by the Chief Incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thero, along with several senior officials of the Presidential Secretariat.
This Bhakthi Gee programme will continue today [May 14] and tomorrow at the same location. Additionally, a short-eats dansala is being held near the Presidential Secretariat for the benefit of the public visiting Colombo for Vesak, and will continue until May 16.
Meanwhile, a ‘Buth Dansala’ organized jointly by the Presidential Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army was inaugurated yesterday near the Presidential Secretariat, with the participation of senior military officers. A large number of devotees from across the country attended the event.
In line with the ‘Buddha Rashmi’ and ‘Bauddhaloka Vesak Kalapya’, several Vesak programmes have been organized in the vicinity with the support of the Presidential Secretariat. These include the illumination of nearby government buildings and roads with decorative lights, and the display of Vesak lanterns, with the active participation of the Presidential Secretariat staff.
[PMD]
The French Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ which arrived in Sri Lanka on a goodwill visit (09 May 25), departed the island on Tuesday (13 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ visited some tourist attractions in the country. In addition, the Commanding Officer and a group of
crew members of the ship called on senior officers of the Sri Lanka National Hydrographic Office (SLNHO) to discuss key hydrographic matters of bilateral importance.
News
“Clean Sri Lanka” joins hands to Improve facilities and sanitation at Kotmale Regional Hospital
Following the bus accident in the Garandiella area of Kotmale, a large number of injured individuals were admitted to the Kotmale Regional Hospital for treatment. In response, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme has collaborated to improve the facilities and sanitation of the hospital.
Accordingly, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme actively worked to clean the hospital ward complex and the hospital premises, aiming to create a comfortable environment for the patients’ treatment and to enhance other facilities.
A notable aspect was the voluntary participation of the local community in this effort. The “Clean Sri Lanka” secretariat appreciates the dedication shown by the doctors and hospital staff of the Kotmale Regional Hospital, who provided emergency treatment to those injured in this unexpected incident despite having access to limited resources.
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