Tea more lucrative despite fall in prices

The tea growers noted that the cash crop remains a stable income earner for many, compared to other crops.

North Rift farmers say they will continue growing tea despite a dip in earnings.

The tea growers noted that the cash crop remains a stable income earner for many, compared to other crops.

The farmers who spoke to The Standard called on authorities to protect tea sub-sector.

This, they noted will protect it from collapse - drawing the experience of maize, sugar and dairy sub-sectors that have suffered poor returns.

A section of farmers in Nandi says despite sharp fluctuation in tea prices, earnings from the cash crop was still lucrative compared to dairy, maize and sugarcane farming.

They now want the Kenya Tea Board (KTB) and other players to market tea in importing countries in Europe, Asia and Arab countries to ensure steady annual earnings.

“Poor market intelligence for the Kenyan quality tea abroad, the Brexit debate in Europe and insecurity in some Arab countries is to blame for fluctuating prices yet Kenyan tea leads in quality globally,” said Joseph Manjoi, a director with Siret Tea Company in Nandi Hills.

"KTB should aggressively identify the ideal market to boost earnings."

Manjoi said marketing roles should not be solely left to Mombasa auction, noting that proper research can identify new avenues that fetch better returns from tea.

He said the high cost of operations, fuel, electricity and labour were consuming more earnings that should have widened farmers' profit margins.

Former Kenya Tea Growers Association chief executive and Member Siret tea Company Gideon Too said tea is the only agricultural sub-sector that can reliably employ locals.

“The tea sector is still reliable and stable compared to other subsectors that are unpredictable. Players should not take advantage of the farmers and fleece them through meagre earnings," said Too.

"There are disparities in bonus earnings in various factories due to the influence of some brokers and officials at the Mombasa auction and mechanisation of the sector would boost earnings.

Farmers Amos Korir and Eliazer Maritim were optimistic the prices will stabilise. “This is a sector we can rely on. It is better than dairy and maize, whose production and earnings are unpredictable,” said Korir.