KTDA, Kenya Tea Development Agency.
KTDA, Kenya Tea Development Agency.

Tea growers who supply their green leaves to the Kenya Tea Development Authority, KTDA, are crying foul after the Agency announced low rates per Kilogram in the bonus payments. This payments are for green leaves delivered to KTDA between 1st July, 2018 and 30th June, 2019. The figures are far much lower than what the farmers received last year.

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Specialty teas are a type of teas which are manufactured differently from other teas by way of gradually rolling and drying the fermented green leaf into smaller sizes without breaking the leaf, unlike the more conventional Cut-Tear-Curl (CTC) method.

Here are the Approved payment rates per factory countrywide:

S/NO.FACTORY NAMEREGION2019 BONUS PAY PER KILO (KSh)
1 Kiamokama Kisii 11.50
2 Eberege Kisii 12.30
3 Ogembo Kisii 12.30
4 Rianyamwamu Kisii 11.50
5 Nyamache Kisii 14.40
6 Itumbe Kisii 14.40
7 Rukuriri Central 39.20
8 Mungania Central 37
9 Imenti Central 36
10 Githongo Entral 35.10
11 Kagwe Central 35
12 Kathanga Central 35
13 Kiambaa Central 34.50
14 Kionyo Central 33
15 Mataara Central 31.30
16 Kinoro Central 31.15
17 Theta Central 31.10
18 Weru Central 31.05
19 Gachege Central 30.10
20 Gatunguri Central 29.20
21 Githambo Central 27.75
22 Makomboki Central 36.50
23 Gacharage Central 37.10
24 Ngeere Central 37.15
25 Ikumbi Central 35.50
26 Njunu Central 34.40
27 Kangaita Central 36.05
28 Imenti Central 36.0
29 Rorok Rift Valley 20
30 Kapset Rift Valley 20
31 Boito Rift Valley 20
32 Kobel Rift Valley 20
33 Tegat Rift Valley 20
34 Toror Rift Valley 20
35 Chelal Rift Valley 20
36 Mogosiek Rift Valley 20
37 Litein Rift Valley 20
38 Kiegoi Central 29
39 Momul Central 28.20
40 Kanyenya Central 28.10
41 Kiru Central 28
42 Michi Central 26.05

KTDA blames the low payout on the reduction in tea prices in the World market.

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Black CTC teas The tea that is most commonly consumed in Kenya is processed using the unique Cut-Tear-Curl (CTC) method of manufacture which produces black granular particles. KTDA produces 4 primary grades of black CTC tea based on the size of the granule particle.

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KTDA recommends farmers pluck ‘two leaves and a bud’ for the reason that these contain high concentrations of chemicals called ‘Catechins’ that are responsible for producing the distinctive flavor, rich aroma and bright colors that good quality tea exhibits.

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