Kenya Tea Development Agency Ltd

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) managed factory will now sell made tea at a premium in the international market and the increased income passed on to the small scale farmers who are its shareholders.

While receiving the certificate yesterday at the factory grounds, KTDA National Vice Chairman, Philip Ngetich, said the award marks a milestone in the tea industry adding that the agency was committed to ensuring that all its factories were operating in line with acceptable international stands.

He said Rainforest Alliance Certification will enable farmers to produce tea in a sustainable manner and register increased earnings in the long term.

Rainforest Alliance requires that farmers protect the natural forests within their jurisdiction and plant indigenous trees to boost forest cover. It also obligates farmers and factories to produce tea ethically by avoiding child labour and protecting the health of workers both at the farm and factory levels.

Mr. Ngetich said Momul tea factory will undergo annual audits every year and will be required to produce tea in a sustainable manner and take a leading role in environmental conservation efforts within its vicinity and its environs.

“This is the clearest demonstration that our factories have indeed achieved world class standards. But we must not rest on our laurels because we will have to undergo annual audits and we will also need to reapply every three years. If we are found wanting, then we will lose out,” he added.

Ngetich said Momul was chosen from among the four factories which had been put on a pilot project by the Rainforest Alliance for certification namely Ngere in Thika, Nyansiongo in Kisii and Mungania in Embu.

“Ngere, Nyansiongo and Mungania factories are also ready for certification and will receive their certificates in the near future,” Ngetich who is also the chairman of Momul tea factory said.
While presenting the certificate, Rainforest Alliance Manager for East Africa and South Asia Marc Monsarrat said small scale farmers in the area will be empowered through ongoing training which will result in better crop husbandry.

Ngetich disclosed that 20 other KTDA factories will undergo similar audit by a team of experts from the Rainforest Alliance in the second phase of the project.

He noted that all KTDA factories have achieved other international certifications including various ISO certifications, ethical Tea Partnership certification while 10 other factories have attained Fairtrade certification.

Momul is one of the youngest factories amongst the 63 factories managed by KTDA that serve the small scale holder tea sub sector and has a capacity to process 15 million kilogrammes of green leaf annually.

It has 12,511 small scale tea growers with over 7,306 acres (2,274 hectares) of land under tea within the catchment area.

Last year, farmers affiliated to the factory produced 16 million kilogrammes of green leaf earning them more than sh.528 million in second payments (bonus). It paid farmers sh.32.70 per kilogramme as compared to last year’s sh.22.80.

Ngetich said this year KTDA paid the highest bonus in Kenya’s tea growing history standing at Sh.25 billion on total revenue of Sh.36 billion.

“This represents a 28 percent growth over last year as it translates into an average payment of sh.35 per kilogramme of green leaf up from sh.24.65 paid out in the previous financial year,” he added.