Impact of the Sudden Ban on Chemical Fertilizers and Other Agrochemicals on Smallholder Tea Production in the Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka

In April 2021, the government of Sri Lanka abruptly banned chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals in a bid to safeguard the country’s agricultural industry, particularly its farmers and consumers, from various health and environmental concerns. Therefore, it is critical to assess the impact of prohibiting chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals on the smallholder tea production in the country. Additionally, understanding the smallholders’ awareness of agrochemicals and their attitudes toward transitioning to organic farming is essential, as these factors hold significant importance for various aspects of the economy. The Ratnapura district was selected as the research area, owing to its extensive tea cultivation across numerous Divisional Secretary (DS) divisions. For this study, a sample of 120 tea smallholders was randomly chosen from three DS divisions (Balangoda, Opanayaka, Imbulpe), representing the entire district, who supply green leaves to the ABC tea factory in Balangoda. Research data were collected through a field survey conducted between September and November 2022. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were employed for data analysis. Additionally, the costs incurred for chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals, the total cost of production, as well as tea production before and after the implementation of the fertilizer policy, were analyzed using paired t-tests. The results obtained indicate that the majority of tea smallholders possess a high level of education, with most owning tea lands ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 acre. Furthermore, a vast majority of them demonstrate understanding of both the positive and negative aspects of agrochemicals. Notably, the analysis reveals a significant increase in the cost of chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals, as well as the total cost of production, following the implementation of the fertilizer policy. Conversely, tea production has shown a significant decrease. Moreover, farmers express willingness to transition gradually from conventional farming practices if suitable alternatives are available. However, they currently face a myriad of challenges due to the lack of effective alternatives for chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals. Consequently, there is a pressing need to identify and implement better alternatives to address their concerns.