COLOMBO, Sept. 2025 – Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyaratna announced that the Government has set an ambitious target of generating $6.5 billion in export earnings from four key agricultural crops—tea, coconut, rubber, and cinnamon—by 2030.
Speaking at the 35th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Tea Factory Owners’ Association, the Minister outlined the administration’s long-term strategy to reposition agriculture as a driver of foreign exchange earnings, amid ongoing debt challenges and the need for export diversification.
Sector Targets
- Tea: $2.5 billion
- Coconut: $1.5 billion
- Rubber: $2.0 billion
- Cinnamon: $500 million
Total Target: $6.5 billion by 2030
Vidyaratna noted that the tea industry already has a five-year strategic plan in place to guide growth and enhance competitiveness.
Overcoming Challenges
The Minister acknowledged that the sector has faced fertiliser shortages and other disruptions in recent years, which have constrained production and exports. To tackle this, the Government will introduce a QR code system for fertiliser distribution, aimed at ensuring efficiency, transparency, and accessibility for farmers.
He further emphasised that stronger rule of law enforcement and political stability are gradually restoring investor confidence in agriculture, leading to increased local and foreign investment.
Industry Perspective
Industry representatives welcomed the Government’s revenue targets but cautioned that policy consistency, better international marketing, and stronger value addition will be critical to achieving them. They stressed that success will depend on more than inputs—it will require global competitiveness and sustained policy support.
Outlook
The $6.5 billion export target signals the Government’s determination to reinvigorate agriculture as a cornerstone of economic recovery. If realised, this goal could substantially boost Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange reserves while strengthening the country’s standing in global agricultural trade.
