On Wednesday, Agriculture PS Paul Ronoh announced that approximately 680,000 smallholder tea farmers will benefit from the initial shipment of 47,300 tonnes of subsidized fertilizer, which was flagged off at the Mombasa port.
He stated that the one million bags of fertilizer dispatched will start reaching farmers on Thursday. An additional one million bags are set to arrive in three weeks, benefiting nearly 800,000 tea farmers nationwide.
According to the PS, the tea sector plays a vital role in the country’s economy, impacting eight million households. “It serves as both a pillar and foundation for our economy,” he noted. In the past year, the sector contributed about four percent to the GDP, increasing from Sh138 billion to nearly Sh200 billion, thanks to favorable rains and the fertilizer subsidy program.
Ronoh encouraged farmers to enhance their production as the government seeks new markets. He reported that around 37 million kilos of unsold tea are being gradually cleared due to new market opportunities. Two major buyers have been identified, and it is expected that all unsold tea will be cleared within the next month. “The Kenya Tea Development Agency program will ensure that no more than 40 million kilos of unsold tea is carried into the next year,” he added.
The price of a bag of fertilizer remains at Sh2,500. Ronoh also mentioned that the government is addressing tea bonuses, a significant concern for farmers, particularly those who received low bonuses last year due to operational challenges and product quality.
“We have commissioned an audit of all factories to identify their issues so that the government and KTDA can provide support,” Ronoh stated, emphasizing that reforms in the sector are aimed at improving tea quality. Poor quality has led to lower incomes for some factories, especially older ones.
Newer factories have seen better bonuses because their equipment is more advanced. “We will explore how to assist the older factories to improve their output,” he said.
Ronoh highlighted that new markets are being developed globally, with China and the Middle East being major targets. He also noted that Russia, a supplier of agricultural inputs to Kenya, is a potential trade partner that could help reduce unsold tea and positively influence pricing.
A value addition program for tea is in progress, with common user facilities being established in tea-growing areas to help small-scale farmers package their tea more attractively for better prices. Locations for these facilities include Kericho, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Eastern regions.
To address issues of theft and wastage, proper calibration of tea machines is essential, and the Tea Board of Kenya will be inspecting factories to ensure accuracy in weight measurements.
KTDA chairman Enos Njeru remarked that the aggregation model enables them to acquire fertilizer at lower prices. He confirmed that this is the third year they have received subsidized fertilizer. “Today’s fertilizer was procured at a higher cost, but the government decided to subsidize it so farmers can purchase it at Sh2,500,” Njeru explained.
With rains expected in October, he urged farmers to prepare for optimal tea quality, noting a significant increase in production this year compared to last. “This year, we’ve produced 1.4 million kilos of green leaf tea, up from 1.1 million kilos last year,” he said, advising farmers to pluck tea leaves every eight days instead of 15 for better quality.
Captain William Ruto, managing director of the Kenya Ports Authority, highlighted improvements in port efficiency, stating that the fertilizer was offloaded within four days, compared to the previous 15 days. “We recognize the importance of timely fertilizer delivery to farmers,” he affirmed.
