John David

KERICHO, KENYA - Kenya’s tea sector continued on the upswing with good returns in earnings last year, recording US$920 million (Ksh69 billion) in revenue from exports to its traditional markets in Europe.

The figure marked an 11% increase up from $826 million (Ksh62 billion) realised in the previous year 2008.

The progress is as a result of improved prices of the beverage in the global markets and good exchange rates.

During the year in review, the $920 million was realised from the sale of 342 million kilogrammes of the commodity down from 383 kilogrammes sold in 2008, marking a 10% decline in sales volumes due to low prices, which ruined the good harvest.

Agriculture Minister William Ruto said there was a general drop in production volumes and attributed the downward trend to prolonged drought in tea growing regions.

“Drought was the single most largest threat not only to the tea sector but to the entire agricultural     sectors which, recorded low production volumes,” he told East African Business Week in an interview. Kenyans consumed some 81.1 million kilograms of tea in 2009, raising local consumption by 4% up from 17.3 million kilograms consumed in 2008.

In an effort to encourage Kenyans to have their tea locally, the minister said the government had embarked on a promotion campaign targeting Kenyans and focusing on health benefits of the beverage.

“We want to ensure Kenyans own their brand and love it, and we are going all the way with this campaign which we are optimistic to reap from,” he observed. 

The huge dividends come on the back of a yet another development that saw  the introduction of two new high yielding tea clones, which experts say is sure to chart new frontiers for the tea sector.

Tea Research Foundation of Kenya (TRFK) added the TRFK371/3 and TRFK430/90 clones to its stable after 16 years of testing to enhance production.

“We expect to see a sustained growth in quality and production, these clones have the ability to withstand the vagaries of weather and post good returns if managed properly,” Mr. David Sang, the lead researcher with the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya said..

Since its formation in 1980, the research outfit has developed more than 100 clones for a number of climatic conditions.

More than 10 clones had shown potential of producing between 5,000 and 8,000 kilos of tea for every 2.47 acres a year.