Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings (KTDA) has identified
climate change as the biggest long-term threat facing the country’s tea sector,
warning that rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and declining soil
fertility are already undermining yields and quality.
KTDA Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer Wilson Muthaura
said that shifting weather patterns across key tea-growing regions were
threatening livelihoods and the sustainability of Kenya’s tea industry, which
supports over 600,000 smallholder farmers.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here
with us,” Muthaura said. “We are seeing changes in rainfall, prolonged
droughts, and increased pest attacks that are affecting productivity.”
To address the crisis, KTDA has rolled out an integrated
sustainability and climate resilience strategy that focuses on reforestation,
renewable energy, and sustainable farming.
The plan aims to help farmers adapt to global warming while
improving yields and reducing production costs.
Muthaura said the KTDA Foundation, the social investment arm
of the agency, is leading efforts to mobilize resources for climate-smart
initiatives, including environmental conservation, youth and women empowerment,
and community development.
“Through the Foundation, we are creating a climate-adaptive
agricultural movement that ensures resilience among farmers beyond just growing
tea,” he said.
Over the past decade, KTDA has significantly reduced its
dependence on unsustainable firewood by investing in renewable energy projects.
Many of its factories now use biomass, hydro, and solar
energy, while wood fuel plantations are being expanded to ensure sustainable
supply.
The agency has also embraced modern technology such as
continuous withering systems to enhance energy efficiency and cut emissions.
“We are investing in energy-saving technologies that lower costs while reducing
our carbon footprint,” Muthaura said.
KTDA is further conducting a comprehensive review of its
Sustainability, Governance, and Environmental Standards (SGES) to align with
international benchmarks on climate action and social responsibility. Muthaura
said the review would help institutionalize best practices across all KTDA
operations.
“This initiative will strengthen accountability and ensure
our sustainability interventions deliver real impact,” he explained.
Beyond climate change, KTDA faces other challenges such as
volatile global tea prices, rising production costs, and shifting consumer
preferences toward specialty and organic teas.
“These challenges are testing the resilience of our farmers
and our business model, but we are developing strategies to adapt,” Muthaura
said, expressing optimism about the sector’s future.
He added that ongoing reforms under the Tea Act 2020 offer
an opportunity to restructure and strengthen the tea value chain.
“With the right policies, innovation, and farmer
empowerment, Kenya can maintain its global leadership in tea production while
building resilience to climate shocks,” he said.
KTDA remains one of Kenya’s largest agribusiness entities,
managing 71 tea factories on behalf of smallholder farmers and accounting for
nearly 60 percent of the country’s total tea output.
