Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, B.L.A.J. Dharmakeerthi, attributed this growth to proactive measures taken to address the decline in export earnings observed in 2023.

Secretary Dharmakeerthi highlighted the sector's remarkable achievements despite recent challenging climatic conditions. He pointed out that initiatives implemented in 2023 have led to substantial growth in the initial six months of 2024.

Key examples of this recovery include a surge in tea exports from USD 407.6 million in April 2023 to USD 450.5 million in April 2024, and coconut exports rising from USD 212 million to USD 263 million over the same period.

Rubber exports increased from USD 299 million to USD 335 million, while cinnamon and pepper exports also showed significant growth.

The sector's recovery efforts included a special program to ensure an adequate supply of fertilizers, with subsidies provided to reduce costs. Additionally, initiatives to support tea replanting and new cultivation have been ongoing, with significant financial allocations to boost production.