This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
Published on October 1, 2019, Kenyan tea farmers are seeking stability in the tea market, citing fluctuations in prices despite the crop's lucrative nature.
North Rift farmers, who spoke to Nyakundi Report, noted that tea remains a stable income earner for many, compared to other crops. They expressed concerns that the sector is vulnerable to collapse, drawing parallels with the maize, sugar, and dairy sub-sectors that have suffered poor returns.
Joseph Manjoi, a director with Siret Tea Company in Nandi Hills, attributed the price fluctuations to poor market intelligence for Kenyan quality tea abroad, the Brexit debate in Europe, and insecurity in some Arab countries. He emphasized the need for the Kenya Tea Board (KTB) and other players to market tea in importing countries to ensure steady annual earnings.
Manjoi also highlighted the high cost of operations, fuel, electricity, and labor as consuming more earnings that should have widened farmers' profit margins. He suggested that marketing roles should not be solely left to the Mombasa auction, noting that proper research can identify new avenues that fetch better returns from tea.
Former Kenya Tea Growers Association chief executive and Member Siret tea Company Gideon Too echoed Manjoi's sentiments, stating that tea is the only agricultural sub-sector that can reliably employ locals. He warned against players taking advantage of farmers and fleecing them through meager earnings.
Despite the challenges, farmers Amos Korir and Eliazer Maritim remained optimistic that prices will stabilize. They emphasized that tea is a more reliable sector compared to dairy and maize, whose production and earnings are unpredictable.
