Kenyans have been challenged to consume more of the country’s tea if they want the sub-sector to grow.
Agriculture and Food Authority Director General Alfred Busolo said the trend in most countries is to consume what they produce before they export.
“We need to change our habits as producers. We need to start believing in what we produce,” he said at the African Tea Convention and Exhibition in Nairobi on Friday.
“Let us get as many people to take as much tea as possible because tea is good,” Mr Busolo said at the meeting that was attended by 120 guests.
In 2016, Kenya earned Sh120.6 billion from tea exports on export volume of Sh480.3 million kilogrammes.
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Domestic consumption was 29.7 million kilogrammes valued at Sh15 billion.
Kenya plans to start purple, green and orthodox tea sales at its weekly auction to create a one-stop-shop for buyers from around the world, according to the East African Tea Traders Association (Eatta).
Eatta Managing Director Edward Mudibo said buyers and traders at the Mombasa auction have shown interest in a wide range of products. The association, which conducts the sales, plans to start selling the varieties by the end of the year.
“Why should a buyer be both in Kenya and Sri Lanka?” said Mr Mudibo. “It makes sense to buy from one auction.”
Charity event
The orthodox variety, which is popular in Russia, Iran and Western Europe, is made from black tea that is processed by traditional methods of withering, rolling and oxidisation, while regular black tea is made using machines that crush, tear and curl the leaves.
Before the conference on Tuesday, Eatta members held a charity event in Mombasa at which they raised Sh5.7 million, which will be donated to children’s homes.
At the event, Rwandan tea factories won 11 out of 12 awards for the best tea in the main grades. Kitabi, Gisovu and Karongi from Rwanda were among those recognised at the event. The overall winner was Nyabihu Tea Factory, also from Rwanda.
Six of the firms belong to Rwanda Mountain Group of companies.
dakure@standardmedia.co.ke, gorido@standardmedia.co.ke
