Kenya is at the heart of the global tea sector. Its position as the continent’s top producer and the world’s third largest comes with the responsibility to drive sustainability for the world’s most popular non-alcoholic drink after water.
Becoming a role model for sustainable industry will ultimately lead to benefits for all stakeholders in the tea supply chain. This entails a persistent commitment to elevating the quality of responsibly produced tea, which will drive the right price for the commodity to benefit staff, the community, and farmers.
Working closely with growers to upgrade their cultivation practices and championing the distinct qualities of Kenyan tea, are key strategies to generate enhanced value that permeates the entire ecosystem.
A sustainable tea industry comes with multiple benefits, not just for the ecosystem, but also for the whole country. Tea’s delicate leaves in many respects, form one of the fundamental pillars of Kenya’s economy and a key driver of socio-economic growth.
Tea production creates many opportunities on which societies are thriving, uplifting lives and livelihoods by catalysing economic activity within communities.
The tea industry contributes approximately 23 percent of Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings, marking its importance as an export product and source of revenues for infrastructure and delivery of education, health and other public initiatives.
It also contributes an estimated five million direct jobs, with 10 percent of Kenya’s population relying on the industry for their livelihoods. Making it sustainable will enhance these benefits while ensuring that it can be enjoyed by future generations.
This makes tea more than just a commodity for the country. It is a beacon of prosperity and economic growth. With such great significance, it is important that the sustainability of the tea industry becomes an important consideration besides serving as a model for the world.
The industry faces myriad challenges in becoming successful and sustainable across the globe, ranging from the effects of climate change to falling prices and Kenya is no exception. Futureproofing it from these challenges is inextricably linked to the nation’s prosperity and the lives of current and future generations.
That is why there is a need to focus on reshaping the Kenyan tea industry with solutions that better sustain a future for all.
The tea industry needs initiatives to keep it sustainable and to promote its long-term well-being across the value chain, right from the growers – both plantations and the estimated 650,000 smallholders – to the final consumer.
More value can be unlocked for all players by producing more high-quality tea that fetches better returns from the growing numbers of tea drinkers globally.
A sustainable tea industry is one that is profitable and generates value that flows equitably across the value chain. Delivering value for all in the tea industry is a key commitment for Lipton Teas and Infusions, the largest buyer of Kenyan tea. Sustainable sourcing is at the core of our operations in our estates in Kericho and Limuru as well as the smallholders we work with to produce over 40,000 tonnes of tea annually, which is about seven percent of the country’s exports of the commodity.
As a result of this, we are placed to lead the industry in addressing the current challenges and seizing opportunities to enhance sustainability to continue playing the critical economic role in Kenya.
This calls for collaboration between the industry, government and other actors across the various touchpoints. Working together, it is possible to generate sufficient value for the entire industry.
This starts with supporting the surrounding ecosystem of farmers, contractors and communities, through to reducing the environmental impact of tea production on the planet.
The industry must come together in the quest for a more sustainable tea industry and to accelerate progress. By exploring new partnerships, testing ideas, and evolving solutions, industry players can begin charting the course between challenge and opportunity.
These include the promotion and protection of communities’ human rights, including decent working and living conditions, safeguarding from sexual and gender-based violence, and the implementation of sustainable farming and production practices to reduce carbon emissions.
Sylvia Ten Den is Director, Ekaterra Tea Kenya Limited.
