Kenya is the third largest tea exporter in the world exporting tea worth over $1.2 billion behind China and Sri Lanka in 2021. The tea industry has been the greatest employer in the agricultural industry.
Over the years, the tea industry has created jobs for over one million people half of them being small-scale farmers.
In over 157,000 Ha. Kenya has managed to continuously produce over 300,000MT. annually of which 90% is exported and 10% consumed locally.
Despite Kenya producing the best quality green tea in the world, its produce has been used by buyers to blend low-quality tea from other qualities just like coffee.
The majority of the over 500,000 small-scale farmers are lavaging in poverty and ill health from low-income and cold weather they face harvesting tea.
The high cost of labour and inputs and drought has led to a drastic reduction in quantities harvested in the past few years. The increase in imported tea has reduced the consumption of locally produced tea.
Tea farmers now agree the returns they get from tea are not sustainable compared to cost. The huge bonuses that used to make tea farming profitable are now peanuts.
Embezzlement of farmers’ money in tea factories and poor management has led to low patent rates. It is for thousands of farmers have opted to uproot their tea for horticulture or real estate.
Way Forward
The tea industry is the least attractive agricultural enterprise with the lowest returns per acre of land. The young generation inheriting tea farms are clearing acres of land for real estate or subdividing for resell.
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Multinational companies have also exited the tea industry in what is believed to be due to the high cost of production.
Agricultural economists are suggesting a shift in the agricultural model from quality based to quantity. The harvesting of two leaves and a bud is not equal to the price paid.
To increase the quantity produced per unit area of land sustainably without lowering the quality produced much; harvesting four leaves and a bud should be implemented.
Acceptance of the use of tea harvesting machines will also help lower labour cost.
Finally, the Promotion of locally produced tea and farmers’ training on the need for agricultural diversification will also increase earnings and improve farmers’ earnings.
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