Tea farmers trained on modern farming techniques

Tea farmers affiliated to Rukuriri tea factory in Embu are rewarded by KTDA Board Member Enos Njeru after a week-long training on good crop husbandry and financial management, on August 14, 2025. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard] More than 900 farmers from Kirinyaga County who were on a six-month training have finally graduated with better farming practices from conventional agriculture to regenerative farming. The farmers affiliated to Kimunye tea factory, underwent the six-month-long training on agribusiness, climate-smart agriculture, farm production improvement, entrepreneurship, and gender mainstreaming. The training that was sponsored by Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) foundation, Rainforest Alliance, and Mount Kenya Landscape Sustainability Program, seeks to empower the farmers with modern farming knowledge and sustainable livelihood practices. Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Nyaguthuci Primary School, Susan Kinyua of Rainforest Alliance said the program targets 25,000 farmers in the Mount Kenya region, particularly in Kirinyaga and Embu counties. The aim is to support a transition from conventional agriculture to climate-smart and regenerative agriculture. "We are here to celebrate farmers who have completed six months of training on improving their livelihoods through diversified initiatives. We are encouraging them to establish small enterprises that will boost their income," said Kinyua. She said the 930 graduates in 40 groups represent the first and second cohorts, with another group expected to enroll in October. For sustainability, Rainforest Alliance will continue to partner with stakeholders who interact directly with farmers and conduct follow-up activities to measure the program's impact. Kimunye Tea Factory chairperson Simon Njeru, encouraged farmers to embrace diversification, saying that tea alone may not sustain household needs. He advised farmers to replace aging colonial-era tea bushes with high-yielding varieties for better quality and productivity. "Through the training, we encourage farmers to embrace diversification. Many farmers from the tea regions have not been able to sustain household needs. You should grab the opportunity," said Njeru. Edward Munene, one of the graduates, said families had long depended solely on tea for school fees, food, and other basic needs, with farmers expressing optimism about the new knowledge. "Through this training, we will be able to explore other ways of generating income. We have also learnt the importance of pooling family earnings, planning together, and investing in ventures that strengthen household unity and rural livelihoods," Munene said. The training also addressed climate change mitigation, encouraging dairy farmers to adopt biogas systems as alternatives to firewood and charcoal, cutting down energy expenses while reducing environmental degradation. Another beneficiary, Juma Githinji, said knowledge in organic and kitchen farming will help reduce costs on chemicals, ensuring a year-round income. "Having different crops means they mature at different times, giving us continuous sources of income," he explained. The programme is expected to transform rural livelihoods across the region, positioning farmers as key players in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

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