Tea is cultivated in 3,692 GN Divisions in 123 DS Divisions in 14 Districts in the Island.

Total tea extent in corporate sector enumerated in 2003 by TRI found to be 81,591 hectares. When this figure added to Small Holdings sector, the aggregate tea extent for both sector is 213,920 hectares. Then the share of extent of Small Holding sector is estimated at 62 percent of the total tea extent in the Island.

370,842 Operators have been operating 397,223 Tea Small Holdings in the Island and the total extent covered by them is 191,402 hectares. 46,241 holdings out of the total number of holdings of 397,223 are less than 20 perches.

Total extent under tea is 132,329 hectares. This number comprised of 110,236 hectares of Mature Tea, 8,039 hectares of Immature Tea, 4,337 hectares of rehabilitated area, 2,154 hectares uprooted for replanting,253 hectares under nurseries and 7,310 hectares under abandoned Tea.

Total number of holdings above 20 perches in the year 2005 was 350,982 as against 206,652 holdings reported in the year 1994. This is an increase of about 70%/

Out of the total extent of 132,329 hectares 118,275 hectares of about 89.4% belonged to mature and immature tea.

Mature and immature tea extent reported in the Census 2005 was 116,492 hectares as against 82,919 hectares reported in the Census 1994 and the increase in about 40%. In addition to that 1,782 hectares of tea extent is covered by 46,241 holdings below 20 perches.

Out of the tea extent of 118,275 hectares, 89.94% are VP tea during the year 2005 against 69.76% in the year 1994.

About 88.4% of the number of tea holdings is less than ½ hectares in size and the extent covered by them estimated to be 51.4% of the total extent.

About 82.5% of operators are operating singly by covering for about 76.6% of the total tea extent.

About 93 percent of the tea holdings have reported the application of fertilizer at least once during the year 2004 and 40.4% of them have obtained fertilizer directly from tea collectors and another 27% from tea factories.

About 51.8% of tea holders sold their green leaf directly to dealers / collectors and another 33.7% sold to tea factories. Production sold to Tea Society is only 6.9%.

The contribution to the total production from small holders in 2004 found to be 66% as against 31% reported in the year 1982.

Highest green leaf production reported form Ratnapura district where the contribution is 27.8%. The contribution from Galle 25’3%, Matara 19.1%, and Kalutara 8.4%. These four districts claim tot about 80.6% of the total green leaf production from small holdings.

Estimated average yield of made tea per hectare for the year 2004 is 1,853 kg. While the average yield estimates in the holdings reporting tea as mono – crop is 1967 kg. / hectare.

About 79% of holdings were operated by males and the rest 31% operated by females.

About 2 /3rd of extent under tea reported to be as a mono – crop (pure stand)

Out of the mature VP tea extent of 95,971 hectares, 10,665 hectares or 11% in more than 25 years old. Out of the total mature seedling extent of 14,265 hectares, 11,566 hectares or 81% is more than 25 years old.