Sri Lanka tea farmers hostage to the weather

Sri Lanka is one of the world’s biggest tea exporters. But production in the first three months of the year fell by more than 41% - the largest drop in a decade. The main reason was a prolonged dry spell, affecting tea cultivation and the income of those working in the industry. Drought-like conditions – not just in Sri Lanka, but in other major tea producing countries – have created a global shortfall of tea; pushing up consumer prices. But workers in the industry are not feeling the benefits of the price hikes.