The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has flagged off the first consignment of 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser at the Port of Mombasa for distribution to 71 KTDA-managed factories across the country.
Speaking during the dispatch ceremony, KTDA Chairman Chege Kirundi said the fertiliser shipment from China marks a major milestone in supporting smallholder tea farmers with affordable and quality inputs aimed at enhancing productivity and tea quality.
“We are here today to oversee the dispatch of 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser destined for all KTDA-managed factories across the country. This exercise reflects KTDA’s commitment to supporting smallholder tea farmers with affordable and quality inputs,” he said.
Kirundi emphasised that the agency’s operations are guided by transparency and efficiency to ensure equitable benefit for all farmers. “Our systems are designed to enhance accountability, enabling farmers to understand how their contributions are used and how KTDA decisions impact their livelihoods,” he added.
The Chairman highlighted that fertiliser use plays a key role in boosting yields and maintaining consistency in tea quality. He also said KTDA is promoting climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate the effects of unpredictable weather and changing rainfall patterns.
“KTDA is advancing soil conservation, water harvesting, and renewable energy use in factories to help farmers sustain productivity while protecting the environment,” he noted.
Kirundi reiterated the agency’s focus on value addition and diversification in the tea sector through the promotion of speciality teas and the expansion of international markets to improve farmers’ earnings.
He apologised to farmers for the delay in this year’s fertiliser delivery, assuring them that future consignments will arrive on time. “We want to assure all our farmers that next year’s fertiliser will be delivered promptly. This is the first of three consignments, as the entire requirement cannot fit in one shipment,” he stated.
He reaffirmed KTDA’s long-term commitment to building a resilient and transparent institution aligned with global environmental and social governance standards. “Our responsibility is to serve farmers faithfully, manage their resources transparently, and safeguard the future of tea growing in the country,” he said.
By Sitati Reagan
