The government has launched a programme for the revival of the small-scale tea, rubber growing sector through financial assistance from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Under this programme, assistance is to be provided to enhance the productivity of 5,500 hectares of existing tea plantations in the districts of Matara, Galle, Ratnapura, Badulla and Kandy.

Meanwhile, this programme would also assist 3,000 hectares of rubber plantations in the Moneragala and Ampara districts.

The total investment for this project is USD 65.4 million of which USD 25.7 would be provided by the IFAD.