Exploring Revenue-Sharing Strategies as a Pathway to Inclusive Growth and Sustainability in Sri Lanka’s Tea Value Chain

Purpose The tea industry, a cornerstone of agricultural economies across Asia and Africa, faces persistent challenges related to unequal value distribution, rising production costs, labour shortages, and climate uncertainty. This study systematically examines revenue-sharing (RS) strategies as a mechanism for promoting inclusive growth, equitable value distribution, and long-term sustainability within the tea value chain, with particular emphasis on the Sri Lankan context. Design/methodology/approach A Structured Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following a PRISMA-based review protocol. A total of 186 records were identified from five major academic databases, of which 32 studies published between 2000 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria. Bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer, together with thematic content analysis, was employed to identify the intellectual structure, research trends, and emerging themes within the literature. Findings The review identified four major research clusters: (1) smallholder empowerment through revenue-sharing incentives, (2) digital traceability and blockchain-enabled revenue-sharing systems, (3) cooperative governance and risk-sharing mechanisms, and (4) policy frameworks and institutional barriers. The findings indicate that revenue-sharing mechanisms have considerable potential to improve producer incentives, strengthen transparency, enhance stakeholder trust, and promote sustainable value-chain governance. Based on these findings, the study proposes an integrated conceptual framework linking revenue-sharing mechanisms, digital technologies, cooperative governance, and sustainability outcomes. Research limitations/implications The study is based on secondary literature and therefore highlights the need for future empirical validation of revenue-sharing models, particularly blockchain-enabled contracts, digital payment systems, and gender-inclusive governance frameworks within plantation economies. Practical implications The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, tea boards, cooperatives, exporters, and plantation companies, including regulatory reforms, tax incentives, mandatory revenue-sharing disclosure, digital traceability, and cooperative digitisation to facilitate equitable and sustainable value-chain development. Originality/value This study represents the first structured literature review dedicated to revenue-sharing in the tea value chain. It develops the first integrated conceptual framework connecting revenue sharing, digital technologies, governance, and sustainability while proposing the first comprehensive future research agenda for tea-sector revenue-sharing. The study advances both theory and practice by providing an evidence-based roadmap for achieving inclusive growth and sustainable transformation in plantation-based value chains.