Kenya Tea Industry Performance Report - 2023 June

Tea production for the month of June 2023 was higher by 4.68 Million Kgs from 43.45 Million Kgs recorded during the same period of last year to 48.12 Million Kgs. However, due to cessation of the "long-rains" season coupled with the onset of the cold weather conditions, production was lower compared to an output of 57.88 Million Kgs recorded in the month of May. During the month of June, the highlands East of the Rift Valley and parts of the Central and West of the Rift Valley experienced cool and cloudy conditions with lower temperatures ranging between 7 0 Celsius to 25 0 Ce1sius. Despite the cessation of the "long-rains" season, precipitation of lower amounts was recorded over the highlands in the West and Central Rift Valley as well as a few areas in the East of the Rift Valley. In tea growing areas in the West of Rift Valley, Kericho and Nandi recorded moderate rainfall averaging 21 to 53 mm daily while the rest of the region (Bomet, Kisii/Nyamira) recorded lower rainfall ranging from 1 to 22 mm daily. During the same period last year, the region recorded depressed and poorly distributed rainfall. Consequently, output in the West of Rift during the month of June this year was higher by 2.07 Million Kgs from 32.05 Million Kgs recorded during the same month of 2022 to 34.13 Million Kgs.