KTDA Flags Off 30,000 Tonnes of Fertiliser to Boost Smallholder Tea Farmers

By Staff Reporter
Mombasa, Kenya

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has flagged off the first consignment of 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser at the Port of Mombasa for distribution to 71 KTDA-managed factories across the country.

The fertiliser, imported from China, is part of KTDA’s continued efforts to support smallholder tea farmers with affordable, high-quality farm inputs aimed at improving productivity and tea quality.

Speaking during the dispatch ceremony, KTDA Chairman Chege Kirundi said the exercise underscores the agency’s commitment to empowering tea growers and strengthening Kenya’s position as a leading global producer of quality tea.

“We are here today to oversee the dispatch of 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser destined for all KTDA-managed factories across the country. This reflects KTDA’s dedication to supporting smallholder tea farmers with affordable and quality inputs,” said Mr. Kirundi.

Under the leadership of KTDA Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Muthaura, the agency has intensified its reforms and advocacy efforts to enhance farmer welfare, streamline operations, and ensure timely access to essential farm inputs.

Mr. Muthaura has been widely credited for steering KTDA towards a farmer-centered transformation agenda, championing better prices for green leaf, improved transparency in factory management, and stronger partnerships to make the tea sector more sustainable.

His leadership has also seen KTDA enhance collaboration with government and international partners to reduce input costs, improve market access, and secure long-term benefits for over 600,000 smallholder tea farmers represented by the agency.

The fertiliser distribution exercise is expected to significantly reduce farmers’ production costs ahead of the next planting season, reinforcing KTDA’s commitment to ensuring the continued growth and prosperity of Kenya’s tea industry.