Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on the newly elected Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) directors to expedite the implementation of tea sector reforms aimed at increasing farmers' earnings. Speaking at the conclusion of the induction workshop for the directors, Gachagua emphasized the need to prioritize the interests of small-scale tea farmers, who have long faced financial challenges.
During the event, attended by prominent agricultural figures and the Governor of Mombasa Abdulswamad Nassir, Gachagua highlighted the critical role the tea industry plays in Kenya's economy and congratulated the new directors on their appointments. He stressed the importance of reducing production costs and improving factory management to ensure farmers receive higher payments. "The tea subsector reforms are essential for the livelihood of over 800,000 smallholder farmers," Gachagua said.
One key reform he urged was cutting costs by reducing reliance on outsourcing services and focusing on in-house capabilities, such as using internal legal teams instead of expensive external lawyers. Additionally, he called for the closure of loss-making subsidiaries within KTDA, emphasizing that the agency should focus solely on tea production.
The Deputy President also urged directors to combat tea hawking, which has led to poor grades and lower prices. He called for collaboration with local authorities to curb illegal tea trading and ensure better quality standards.
As part of the government’s broader agricultural reforms, Gachagua encouraged the KTDA to prioritize national branding, timely payments to farmers, and the expansion of value-added tea production from 1% to 40% by 2027.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja echoed Gachagua’s sentiments, stating that the reforms aim to raise farmers' earnings from the current average of Ksh 59 per kilo to over Ksh 90 by 2027. He added that the goal is to increase annual tea export revenue from Ksh 180 billion to Ksh 360 billion.
The Deputy President's push for reforms comes after a Tea Reforms Conference held in July 2023, where key resolutions were made to transform the tea sector for the benefit of farmers across the country.
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