PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

2.1. TEA FARMING

. Geographical Distribution:

• Tea is primarily cultivated in the highland regions of Kenya, with the Rift Valley, Central, and Western provinces being major tea-growing areas.
• Highlands areas like Kericho, Nandi, Bomet, and Kiambu are renowned for their favorable climate, fertile soils, and adequate rainfall, ideal for tea cultivation.

2. Varieties Cultivated:

• Kenya predominantly cultivates Camellia sinensis var. Assamica, commonly known as "Kenya tea" or "Kenyan black tea."
• Different clones and cultivars have been developed to suit various agro-climatic conditions and production requirements, including high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties.

3. Cultivation Practices:

• Tea farming in Kenya involves both smallholder and large-scale plantations, with diverse farming systems ranging from monoculture plantations to mixed cropping systems.
• Farmers cultivate tea using both conventional and organic farming practices, employing techniques such as manual or mechanized planting, pruning, weeding, and pest control.
• Sustainable soil management practices, including mulching, cover cropping, and terracing, are adopted to conserve soil fertility and prevent erosion.

4. Harvesting and Processing:

• Tea is harvested throughout the year, with peak harvesting periods varying depending on the region and weather conditions.
• Harvesting is typically done by hand-picking the young, tender leaves, known as flushes, every few weeks.
• After harvesting, the tea leaves undergo processing, which includes withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, and sorting to produce various types of tea, such as black, green, and specialty teas.

5. Economic Importance:

• Tea farming is a significant contributor to Kenya's economy, providing employment and income opportunities for millions of people, including smallholder farmers, tea estate workers, and processing plant employees.
• The tea industry is a major foreign exchange earner for Kenya, with tea exports being one of the country's top agricultural exports.

6. Challenges and Opportunities:

• Tea farming faces various challenges, including fluctuating global tea prices, climate change impacts, pests and diseases, and labor shortages.
• However, there are opportunities for the tea sector to enhance productivity, sustainability, and value addition through research and innovation, adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, value chain development, and market diversification.