Drought Severely Affecting Sri Lanka

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENT
WORSENING DROUGHT
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Severe Drought cutting Sri Lanka’s tea production by half 

Worsening drought in Sri Lanka has cut the country’s tea production by at least 50 percent, affecting the livelihoods of about 400,000 families. 

The rainfall, humidity and cool temperatures in the island’s central highlands have provided a favorable climate for production of high quality tea.

Sri Lanka is the world’s leading exporter of tea accounting for 24% of the global export.

Tea production is the country’s second largest export netting the island about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2013.

The industry employs about 1.5 million people.