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The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has announced plans to implement minimum quality standards for tea leaves, a move aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Kenyan tea in the global market. KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru revealed this initiative during the opening ceremony of a four-day induction event for over 300 newly elected KTDA directors from 24 counties, held in Mombasa.
Njeru emphasized that this quality-focused approach will ensure that Kenyan tea continues to be a product of choice worldwide. “We want to speak in one voice, set a minimum standard quality that will be acceptable to KTDA so that we treat all farmers equally and fairly, and sell our tea that will generate better revenue to our farmers,” he said. He added that the difference in earnings between the highest and lowest quality tea should not exceed KSh10 per kilogram.
To tackle the issue of unsold bulk teas stored in warehouses, KTDA will diversify its product range, reducing the overstocking of black CTC tea and catering to diverse market tastes. “This will not only reduce overstocking of the black CTC tea but also provide the market with a host of diverse products to meet their different tastes and preferences,” Njeru noted.
Farmers were urged to pick the best quality tea leaves, as the high volume of unsold tea has been exacerbated by poor quality, hawking of tea, the use of machinery, and improper handling of tea after harvesting. The abolition of Direct Overseas Sales (DSO) has also impacted tea stocks. However, Njeru reassured farmers that KTDA has increased its monthly payments to incentivize them to focus on quality rather than quantity.
In addition to improving quality, KTDA is planning to establish a common user facility in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. This facility will help ease value addition and reduce transportation costs, further enhancing the agency’s operational efficiency.
Tea Board of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Willy Mutai supported the initiative, highlighting the crucial role of small-scale tea factories, which contribute 56% of the national crop production. He noted that the sector produced 266 million kilograms of tea last year, with this year’s target set at 319 million kilograms. Mutai assured farmers that the government is committed to supporting the tea industry, including reintroducing DSO to allow factories to conduct direct sales.
“The government has provided Sh1 billion to support your tea packing hub at KETEPA in modernizing its equipment. It has also set aside Sh10 billion to support all farmers, including tea farmers, with subsidized fertilizer,” Mutai stated. These interventions are part of the government’s broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) aimed at boosting the agricultural sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers.
The favorable weather conditions and abundant rainfall this year have led to high tea production, further underscoring the need for quality standards to maintain Kenya’s reputation as a leading tea producer. The new quality measures are expected to ensure that Kenyan tea remains competitive on the global stage, benefiting both farmers and the national economy.
