Tea farmers warned to brace for tough times as earnings drop

A farmer picks tea leaves at his farm in Makomboki, Muranga County. A report by the agriculture ministry forecasts a significant drop in production compared to the same period in 2016.

Tea export earnings dropped significantly during the first half of 2016, even as the Ministry of Agriculture warns of tougher times for farmers in 2017.

The Kenya Tea Industry Performance Report, 2016 warns that the depressed rainfall conditions experienced during the 2016 October/December short rains and the effects of the current drought in the country spells trouble for tea production in the first quarter of 2017.