Tea farmers’ earnings are expected to go up after factory companies adopted a new system of production known as orthodox.

The orthodox tea production method earns producers about Sh5 more per kilogramme compared to the conventional system, according to Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) chairman David Ichoho.

The mode of production which involves grinding of tea leafs is increasingly becoming popular in Asian countries like Russia, Iran, Pakistan and other markets and has so far been embraced by at least 16 tea factories in Kenya.

Ichoho spoke at Ndarugu Tea Factory in Gatundu South, Kiambu county during the handing over of a site for the construction of a new orthodox production line to be built at a cost of Sh130 million.

Construction is expected to be complete by end of the year.

“This is the way to go since the demand for orthodox tea has grown since production in Sri Lanka, which was the leading producer of the brand, went down. We cannot even meet 25 per cent of the demand,” Ichoho said.

Ichoho also disclosed that tea production had doubled since the onset of the long rains rising from 62 million kilogrammes last year to 117 million.