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Kenya has set its sights on doubling tea exports and earnings by creating a better branding of its produce to compete with giants in the market such as Sri Lanka.The South Asian country has been producing mostly orthodox black teas alongside CTC, white and green teas.

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe who doubles to be a tea director at Ndarugu Tea Factory revealed that Sri Lanka has been earning double of what Kenya exports despite their low production owing to a distinguished branding that they have created over the last thirty years.Last year, Sri Lanka produced 250 million kilogrammes of tea leaves earning them five million US dollars as compared to Kenya which despite producing 530 million kilogrammes only netted $1.9 million.

According to Kagombe, the Asian country has created a notable brand exhibiting unique flavour, fragrance and freshness of their produce which is exclusively handpicked by expert tea pluckers through orthodox and artisanal methods.

Global markets

Kenya, he said, must brand itself better to attract more sales and earnings in the global markets through value addition and preservation of freshness, flavour and aroma.

Speaking to tea farmers in his constituency ahead of June 28, 2024 elections that are scheduled to happen in all the 54 smallholder factories across the country, Kagombe said the government and players in the sector have laid enough measures to double the earnings of farmers.

“Our intention is to increase the monthly earnings of farmers to at least Sh30 per every kilogramme of green leaf sold to KTDA. This will enable farmers to improve their livelihoods and even without relying on bonuses, you will be in a position to meet your daily and monthly obligations courtesy of your farming,” he said. Kagombe disclosed that the government was set to continue implementing tea reforms to unchain farmers from decades of poverty occasioned by mismanagement of the sector by cartels.

He said that since the government espoused tea reforms in law through Crops (Tea Industry) Regulations 2020 and Tea Act, 2020, farmers have been receiving their monthly payment on time and their earnings have continuously increased.