Tea factories have been directed to immediately reject green leaf that does not meet the recommended ‘two leaves and a bud’ standard, in a move that could force farmers to change their plucking practices.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said factories should not accept poor-quality leaf and mix it with produce from farmers who meet the required standards, arguing that this lowers the quality of the final tea and affects earnings.

The directive comes as the government implements a Ksh7.1 billion programme to modernise tea factories, with the investment targeting ageing machinery, energy consumption and other production costs.

Kagwe said the government could not invest in modern processing equipment while allowing factories to receive raw material that compromises the quality of tea produced for the market.

📌 What You Need to Know

“If we have agreed that quality tea is two leaves and a bud, then that is what must come to the factory. We cannot have farmers who are doing the right thing being punished because a few others bring poor-quality leaf which is then processed together with theirs,” Kagwe said.

The CS made the remarks at Kapsara Tea Factory, where Ksh44.6 million has been allocated for the installation of a new withering plant to replace ageing equipment.

The quality requirement is expected to put greater pressure on farmers and factory management to enforce standards at the point where green leaf is delivered for processing.

Kagwe argued that mixing poor-quality leaf with properly plucked produce can affect the value of tea produced from an entire consignment, meaning farmers who observe the recommended standards may also suffer lower returns.

The government is linking the quality drive to efforts to secure better prices for Kenyan tea in international markets, particularly by increasing production of orthodox and speciality teas alongside the country's traditional bulk exports.

At the same time, Kagwe cited Momul Tea Factory, saying its tea had increased from Ksh258.48 (USD2) to more than Ksh387.72 (USD3) per kilogramme after improvements in the quality of green leaf supplied by farmers.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke