Last week Kenyan officials announced a plan to incentivize the growth of specialty tea to further build the industry.
“We want to increase tea industry earnings by encouraging farmers to embrace specialty tea varieties such as white, purple and orthodox tea which have high value,” Samuel Ogola, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority Head of Tea Directorate, told Xinhua.
The Kenyan government sees the possibilities of growth by reaching new markets in China, Canada, Europe and North Africa. Specialty tea can bring more than 1/3 higher price than non-specialty black tea resulting in higher incomes from the same farmland.
Back in September, the interim head of the Tea Directorate Elizabeth Kimenyi told Xinhua that they needed to reduce their emphasis on Egypt, Britain and Pakistan to protect against fluctuations in price. In 2014, approximately 95% of Kenya’s tea was exported.
Later this spring, “Specialty Tea Manufacturing Guidelines” will be released to provide recommendations regarding procedures for specialty tea production.
Small farms will be empowered to construct factories and more tea can be sold already blended and packaged, rather than just being sold bulk at auction.
SOURCE: Kass Media