By Morris Githenya
Kenya exported 313,749,789 kgs of tea to the foreign market between January and September this year.
The majority of the produce that was exported was sourced from the KTDA managed factories.
According to the details obtained at the Mombasa Tea Auction, the product was bought by 81 buyers who purchased 385,850,165 kgs of tea.
The huge consignment bought from Kenya as others orders were from the countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique and Ethiopia.
Last year, in the same duration, Kenya exported 282,479,123 kgs of the commodity.
Tea Value Chain Expert Peter Karomo said the auction facility has been the most popular in the world as many of the buyers are interested with the Kenyan produce to bled products from other tea producing countries.
Mr Karomo said policy by the Ministry of Agriculture, Tea Board of Kenya and KTDA Holdings directing plucking of the quality green leaf at the farm level will help in the marketing of the teas in the market.
“Quality of Kenya’s smallholder tea is superior thus attracting many of the buyers, as in the nine months duration Global Tea and Commodities out of 49.1 million kgs bought 42.3 million kgs originated from Kenya,” said Karomo.
Chai Trading which was ranked the second purchased 42.2 million kgs out of the 46 million kgs that was presented from the seven countries in east african region.
KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru said the policy on quality green leaf will ensure all the tea in the market is sold, as he lauded the buyers for showing interest with the local produce.
The directors at the factories backed by the KTDA staff, Mr Njeru said, are educating the farmers on the need for plucking of the quality green leaf.
“ From the statistics at the tea auction, the buyers are interested in the Kenyans tea, thus the need for the local farmers to embrace the quality and adhere to the best farming practises,” said Njeru.
Suleiman Mbatiah