Tea market offer impressive returns

The Mountain Journal      

editor@themountainjournal.co.ke

Kenya’s smallholder tea factories earned Sh 1.3 billion  after the sale of 5,148159kgs at the Mombasa Tea Auction last week.

In the auction, factories east of the rift presented 2,988,247 kgs of tea at the market, while those in the west of the rift produced 2,159,912 kgs.

 the best factories are  Gacharage that earned Sh21.1 million after the sale of 63,380kgs of tea, followed by Mununga Sh24.9 million after the sale of 71.4 million kgs, Imenti Sh 34.3 million for the sale of 98,947  kgs, Kiegoi Sh23.7 million after the sale of  70.376 kgs,  Kionyo Sh 36.8 million for the sale of 109,000 kgs, among others.

In the report other best performing were Njunu, Rukuriri, Makomboki and Ngere.

In the report factories that received the lowest payment are Boito, Kobel and Rorok at the rate of Sh144.Sh 145, and Sh145 respectively per kilograme of tea sold at the market.

 Ngere tea factory in the market earned Sh48.2 million for the sale of 148,504 kgs and ranked the highest earner.

Ngere tea factory Chairman James Githinji appreciated the farmers for having maintained production of quality green leaf throughout the year.

“ Am pleased that factories of Ngere, Makomboki, Njunu, Ikumbi and Gacharage in zone two, as  in the auction, were ranked among the 20 best tea producers,” said Githinji. 

 Tea Value Chain Expert Peter Karomo says the buyers are interested in quality tea, thus need for the producers and processors  to educate the growers.

“ As the KTDA, Tea Board of Kenya and the government accelerate sourcing  for more markets, the producers are on notice on quality production of tea,” said Karomo.

 East Africa Tea Trade Association Managing Director George Omuga said the tea auction has remained competitive thus the need  for the players in the value chain to embrace production of quality.

“ Kenya tea attracts the international market with the buyers interested in those adhering to the best agricultural practices,” said Omuga. 

KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru says production of quality tea has necessitated the best price in the market.

He said there is a need  for the stakeholders  to concentrate on quality in both east of the rift and west of the rift for their produce to attract better payment

“ KTDA leadership is focused on production quality as we have a programme  to visit all the farmers in the western region in efforts to educate them in production of the best tea,” said Njeru.