CS Kagwe urges tea packaging in Kenya to boost farmer earnings and freshness

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has urged tea exporters and investors to package the commodity in Kenya, saying the move will enhance freshness, improve traceability, and increase returns for farmers.

Speaking at the North America Tea Conference in South Carolina, Kagwe said the government has scrapped taxes on packaging materials for agricultural products to encourage local value addition.

He noted that packaging tea at source not only reduces costs but also enables exporters to meet international market specifications with direct-to-shelf products.

“By packaging at origin, we eliminate unnecessary costs, improve competitiveness, and strengthen Kenya’s position in the global tea market,” Kagwe told delegates.

The CS was accompanied by Tea Board of Kenya CEO Willy Mutai, KTDA Chair Geoffrey Kirundi, KTDA CEO Wilson Muthaura, and Kenya’s Ambassador to the U.S. David Kerich.

Kagwe highlighted Kenya’s continued dominance in global tea production, reporting that output reached 598.47 million kilograms in 2024—a 4.95 percent rise from the previous year.

He attributed the growth to favourable weather, subsidised fertiliser distribution, and increased processing capacity.

The Cabinet Secretary also emphasised Kenya’s diversification into orthodox and speciality teas, particularly purple tea, developed at the Tea Research Institute.

The variety, unique to Kenya, is prized for its high antioxidant content and health benefits, fetching three to four times the price of black tea.

“Kenya’s innovation in tea not only secures better earnings for farmers but also places us ahead in meeting shifting global consumer demands,” Kagwe said.

He further underlined tea’s environmental and cultural importance, describing it as a crop that sustains livelihoods while conserving ecosystems through soil erosion prevention, biodiversity support, and carbon sequestration.

Kagwe concluded by calling on the U.S. market to embrace Kenyan black, green, and purple teas, stressing that “quality will always find a market.”