Boost to tea farmers as gov't opens direct access to international markets

Small-scale tea farmers in Kenya are poised to enjoy increased earnings after the government announced plans to allow local tea factories to sell their green leaf directly to international markets, bypassing intermediaries.

Speaking on Friday at Gitugi Tea Factory in Othaya, Nyeri County, during celebrations to mark this year’s International Tea Day, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the reforms, spearheaded by his ministry, aim to boost farmers' income and improve the competitiveness of Kenyan tea globally.

“I'm happy to report that, through ongoing reforms, we will soon allow tea factories to sell their teas directly to international markets without intermediaries,” said Mr Kagwe.

“This strategy will strengthen the Government of Kenya’s marketing efforts and translate into increased earnings for our tea farmers.”

Themed “Tea Industry Sustainability – Looking into the Future,” this year’s International Tea Day celebrations focused on promoting sustainable production and consumption across the tea value chain.

CS Kagwe emphasized the importance of maintaining high-quality standards for Kenyan tea exports.

“Before tea leaves this country--whether by road or sea--I want to stress to the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) that only high-quality tea must be allowed out of our borders,” he said.

In tandem with quality control, the Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to explore and penetrate new international markets.

The CS announced that he would soon lead a high-level delegation--including representatives from TBK, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA), and other stakeholders--to promote Kenyan tea in target markets across the Far East, Middle East, China, Russia, and India.

“These initiatives are aligned with the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, Vision 2030, and the Kenya Tea Industry Global Marketing Strategy,” Mr Kagwe said.

To further promote value addition and diversification, the ministry plans to launch an orthodox tea auction window under the Integrated Tea Trading System (ITTS) in June 2025.

This platform, overseen by EATTA in collaboration with TBK, will facilitate global sales of orthodox teas—a shift from the current reliance on Cut, Tear, and Curl (CTC) varieties.

“The orthodox tea auction will serve as a reliable distribution outlet and drive the diversification of our tea products, strengthening the sustainability of the sector,” said Mr Kagwe.

He noted that the tea sub-sector remains a vital contributor to Kenya’s economic transformation.

As a priority value chain under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), tea is recognized for its role in job creation, income generation, and rural development.

“My ministry is championing innovative initiatives aimed at making the tea sub-sector globally competitive and sustainable,” he said.

“Our focus remains on ensuring better returns for farmers and enhancing governance through the enforcement of corporate governance guidelines and codes of conduct for smallholder tea factories.”

Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga also voiced his support for the initiative, pledging Senate backing to ensure the success of direct international sales.

“As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, we will support the government’s efforts and help actualize this approach,” Mr Wamatinga said.

Nyeri Woman Representative Rahab Mukami highlighted additional support for the sector, revealing that tea packaging materials have been exempted from taxation in the Finance Bill, 2025.

“Parliament has already passed the Bill, and I can assure Kenyans that there is no tax imposed on tea packaging materials,” Ms Mukami said.