Tea Production Reaches All Time High Despite Destinations Recording Low Imports

Tea production for the month of March 2020 in Kenya reached an all-time high of 55.7 million kilograms against 26.5 million kilos recorded during the corresponding month in 2019.

A similar high monthly output was previously recorded in December 2018 at 51.8 million kilograms and January 2016.

Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Acting Director-General Anthony Muriithi said the high production is attributed to the onset of the long rains season characterized by high precipitation and sunny intervals experienced across tea growing areas in the west and south rift regions.

The tea directorate report performance highlights for March 2020 says unlike other years, the long rains in March were preceded by a prolonged period of short rains which contributed to equally good production during the months of January and February.

Muriithi however noted that the depressed demand following disruptions and restrictions of movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to low demand of Kenyan tea in some key global market destinations in the month of March this year.