This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
Published on September 9, 2019, Trade and Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has urged stakeholders in the tea sector to engage in value addition to increase their earnings.
Kenya's tea continues to fetch low prices at the international market because it is sold in its raw form for blending with other inferior brands, according to Mr. Munya.
He spoke at Kanyenya-ini Tea Factory in Murang'a County at the weekend when he presided over the graduation of 160 tea growers after completing a one-year training programme on quality tea farming.
Mr. Munya said the Government will support local industries to venture in value addition processes as a strategy to increase earnings to the producers.
He cited Sri Lanka, which produces less than Kenya, as an example of a country that increased its earnings from the crop by more than 40% after embracing value addition.
The CS said Kanyenya-ini Tea Factory is among those earmarked to get government support to venture into value addition.
He also expressed the ministry's keen interest in reviving the Kenya Coffee Planters Cooperative Union and Kenya Farmers Association.
