Tea pickers in Rift adopt new user-friendly baskets

A tea worker using the newly designed basket in the Central Rift region

Thousands of tea pickers in the Rift Valley have welcomed the introduction of newly designed tea-picking baskets aimed at improving their working conditions and overall welfare.

The region is home to more than 600,000 tea pickers.

There is renewed hope for these workers, who have long relied on cumbersome traditional baskets that are heavy and unstable when carried on the back.

The new baskets that are not only durable and affordable but also promote healthy living and are environmentally friendly.

Tea Machinery Engineering Company Limited (Temec), in collaboration with a foreign fabricator, unveiled the new baskets in response to growing demand for all-weather, user-friendly tea-picking equipment.

Temec general manager Michael Cherutich described the baskets as highly durable, noting their resistance to tearing and abrasion.

He said the new baskets, known as monofilament green leaf tea plucking baskets, retain their shape even under the weight of heavy loads of tea leaves.

“Monofilament green leaf tea plucking baskets are made from hygienic, virgin, food-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are UV-stabilised to resist radiation,” he said.

The company developed the baskets after numerous concerns were raised about the conventional bamboo-woven versions.

“The conventional bamboo basket rolls on the back, rubbing against the plucker and causing discomfort, especially during long working hours,” Cherutich said.

He said bamboo baskets absorb moisture during the rainy season, becoming heavier and are more prone to damage.

In contrast, the new monofilament basket weighs only 0.9kg, compared to 2.6kg for the traditional version, and offers a higher carrying capacity—14kg versus 8kg.

Trials conducted at Kangaita and Kagochi Tea Farms have confirmed the effectiveness of the new baskets.

Unlike bamboo baskets, which absorb water during rainfall, the monofilament versions are free-draining, making them more efficient and longer-lasting.

 Cherutich said one basket costs Sh1,500.

“It is estimated that each plucker buys two conventional bamboo baskets annually at an average cost of Sh500, spending about Sh1,000 per year. Over three years, this amounts to Sh3,000, which is double the cost of a single monofilament basket,” he said.

Cherutich said Temec was established to provide innovative solutions within the tea value chain, focusing on products that benefit farmers.

He reiterated the company’s commitment to continually developing products that enhance efficiency and boost farmers’ earnings.