31st January, 2019
The Kenya tea development agency (KTDA) has recorded marginal rise in production, as prices hit a 5?year?low. Reliable rainfall in the last half of 2018 led to increased production. Greenleaf production for smallholder tea farmers rose 4.4% to 611 million kilos in the first half of 2018/9. The average price of KTDA teas in the first half of 2018/19 sharply dropped to USD 2.71 per kg from USD 3.27 for the same period last year. The drop has been attributed to increased tea volumes than the market can absorb and global factors. Predictions are that if the price drops continue, farmers should expect lower earnings for the year.