By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Tea farmers across the country will soon be smiling their way to the bank. This is after the government signed a pack with Liptons Teas and Infusions and Brown Investments that will enable the farmers to earn more from the crop.
Under the new partnership, the two firms will position Kenya’s Tea as a premium product to the global stage.
The collaboration will also see the two entities partner with the local communities to enhance the capacity of the sector.
Among other benefits the tea farmers are set to get from the new plan will include the setting up of a Community Endowment Trust Fund with an initial investment of Sh1 billion in community projects.
According to a statement from the State House, Liptons is already setting up the Lipton’s Tea Academy that will see the training of farmers on the global best practice to achieve maximum value on their crop.
The two entities will also set up a state-of-the-art tea-specific fertilisers plant.
With the new partnership in place, President William Ruto said Kenyan tea will continue attracting world attention due to its top quality.
The President spoke on Tuesday at State House in Nairobi.
Tea is among leading foreign exchange earner contributing about 23% of total foreign exchange earnings and 2% of the Agricultural GDP.
Annually, the country produces over 450 million Kgs of tea, which earn the country over K.sh 120 Billion in export earnings, and 22.0 Billion on local sales.In addition, Kenya is ranked Africa’s largest tea producer.
The majority of Kenya’s tea-growing regions are found in the Kenyan Highlands, on both sides of the Great Rift Valley.
Reforming the tea sector has been one of the key priority area for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chairs the tea reforms taskforce.