By MKT Reporter
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has confirmed that all procured fertiliser for the 2025 season is now being distributed to smallholder tea farmers across the country.
KTDA procured a total of 99,875 tonnes of NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertiliser on behalf of its network of over 600,000 smallholder tea farmers.
The fertiliser arrived in three separate shipments, all of which have been successfully discharged, bagged, and are currently en route to tea factories for onward distribution to farmers.
In a statement released by KTDA Corporate Communications, the agency said it had mobilised all available logistical resources; including transporters and factory distribution systems to fast-track deliveries and ensure that farmers receive their inputs as quickly as possible.
“The timely supply of fertiliser is critical for optimal tea yields and we remain committed to supporting farm productivity and safeguarding farmer incomes, despite the challenges encountered in the supply chain,” the statement noted.
Smallholder tea farming forms the backbone of Kenya’s tea industry, contributing about 60 per cent of the country’s annual tea production.
Fertiliser application is a key factor in maintaining tea quality and yields and any delays in supply can significantly affect farmer earnings and the overall competitiveness of Kenyan tea in global markets.
KTDA works closely with tea factories and cooperatives to coordinate the procurement and distribution of inputs such as fertiliser and seedlings. This system has been credited with improving efficiency in delivery and ensuring that smallholder farmers, who often face logistical challenges, can access essential farm inputs in time for the planting or cropping seasons.
Industry analysts note that the NPK 26:5:5 compound fertiliser, which contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, is specifically formulated to enhance tea leaf growth, improve soil fertility and increase the resilience of tea plants to pests and diseases. Timely application is therefore crucial to realizing optimal yields.
A survey by this publication revealed that already, most farmers across tea-growing counties have received their supply, albeit later compared to other seasons.
Sources revealed that the delay was occasioned by the government’s failure to release the fertiliser subsidy funds for procurement of the commodity.
Through the government subsidy, farmers have been paying KSh2,500, which less than half of what they used to pay before the government’s intervention.
KTDA’s annual fertiliser procurement and distribution programme is a cornerstone of Kenya’s tea sector strategy, ensuring that the country remains one of the world’s leading exporters of high-quality black tea.
The farmers have called their agency to work on modalities of ensuring that the delay is not witnessed in the coming season.
John Kariuki