Kenya Tea Industry Performance Report - 2023 November

Tea production for the month of November 2023 was much more enhanced by 1.68 Million Kgs from 49.22 Million Kgs registered during the same period of 2022 to 50.90 Million Kgs. Higher production was attributable to heavy downpour experienced during the first week of the month which is characteristic of November, as it usually marks the peak of “OctoberDecember”’ seasonal rainfall. In tea growing regions within the East of Rift (Kiambu; Muranga/Nyeri/Kirinyaga and Embu/Meru), high precipitation (above-average rainfall ranging from 159 mm to 330 mm daily) was recorded in the first week of the month. However, the rainfall gradually waned to less than 10 mm daily towards the end of the month. In the West of Rift Valley, the amounts of rainfall experienced was moderate in Kericho (21 mm to 116.4mm) but slightly lower in the rest of the region (Nandi; Nyamira/Kisii and Bomet) at 5 mm to 75.8 mm. Consequently, production within the East of Rift in the month of November was significantly higher by 2.96 Million Kgs from 13.58 Million Kgs recorded in the same period 2022 to 16.54 Million Kgs. However, owing to low precipitation, output in the West of Rift during the month of November 2023 was lower by 1.27 Million Kgs from 35.63 Million Kgs recorded during the same month of 2022 to 34.36 Million Kgs. Across the sub-sectors, Smallholder sub-sector, which is more widespread in the East of Rift, recorded higher output by 2.95 Million Kgs from 22.06.