Category: Agriculture

Feb 11, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Kelani Valley Plantations said higher tea and rubber crops and prices in the December quarter had helped reduce losses although it still ended 2009 in the red. The company, part of the Hayleys group, said it made a profit of 179 million rupees in the December quarter compared […]

Feb 06, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Tea Board has chosen MTI Consulting, a management consultancy, to develop a strategy to promote Ceylon tea, the island™s main commodity export. The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) said it chose the firm after a year-long competitive evaluation process. Tea is Sri Lanka™s second largest export earner next […]

Feb 05, 2010 (LBO) – A Sri Lanka state agency is to be given money to buy 140,000 metric tonnes of paddy produced in the upcoming main cultivation season to maintain farm-gate prices, a government minister said. Sri Lanka has high rice prices and from late December the government brought down high import tariffs to […]

Feb 05, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has wrapped up a deal to get a 16 million dollar loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development for an irrigation project in the island’s central region, a senior minister said. The Kalu Ganga (river) development project is part of the Moragahakanda development program, information minister Anura […]

Feb 05, 2010 (LBO) – Heavy rains in some of Sri Lanka™s tea growing regions have delayed the onset of the quality season when plantations companies get high prices for their teas, brokers said. Prices fell at this week™s auction as larger volumes went on sale but sale quantities are expected to decline as dry […]

Feb 03, 2010 (LBO) –Sri Lanka™s Hayleys conglomerate is building a factory in the former war zone in the east to increase exports of pickled gherkins to food companies such as McDonald™s and Burger King. The partnership will open up new markets for farmers in the east, increase their incomes and expand the economic base […]

Feb 02, 2010 (LBO) – High tea prices helped Sri Lanka’s Horana Plantations to make a profit of 75 million rupees in the December, according to accounts filed with the stock exchange. Horana Plantations said the wage deal was effective from April 2009 and that wage arrears amounting to 68.05 million rupees has been recognised […]

Feb 01, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Chemical Industries (Colombo) has returned to profit in the December 2009 quarter helped by a 250 million rupee past due payment from the government. In its annual report last year the firm said Chemcel (Pvt) Ltd, would make a speciality chemical with a US partner and was held […]

Jan 23, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea production was fell 9.0 percent to 289.77 million kilograms in 2009, despite a sharp recovery in output in the latter part of the year amid surging prices. In December tea output rose 29.5 percent to 25.1 million kilogram from a year earlier. Orthodox black tea, which is […]

Jan 20, 2010 (LBO) – Dairy farmers in eastern Sri Lanka will get technical help to improve milk production and also be linked to agri-business firms, in a program supported by the United States. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a deal with Manmunai West Livestock Breeders Cooperative Society to increase the […]

Jan 06, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea exporters are pressing for liberalisation of tea imports for blending and re-export, saying it could help improve value-addition in the island and expand markets. Jayantha Keragala, chairman of the Tea Exporters Association, said exporters could increase earnings if more imports are allowed for blending and value-addition. Imports […]

Dec 30, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka™s Central Bank said it will slash lending rates for farmers with effect from January 1, 2010 barely a month ahead of crucial presidential elections. Total loans amounting to about 10 billion rupees are disbursed each year under this loan scheme. Under the Agro Livestock Development Loan Scheme the […]