President William Ruto has announced a KSh850 million investment to modernise machinery and equipment in 17 tea factories across Kenya, in a move aimed at improving processing efficiency and increasing the value of Kenyan tea.
The President said the funds had already been budgeted for and made available, assuring tea farmers that the government was committed to strengthening the sector and improving the value of their produce.
“The money has been budgeted for and made available,” Ruto said.
The Head of State also announced that the government had allocated 50 acres of land to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone in Mombasa for the establishment of a plant.
The proposed facility is expected to support the government's broader efforts to enhance value addition in the tea industry and strengthen the competitiveness of Kenyan tea in domestic and international markets.
Ruto made the announcements on Friday while addressing the final day of the three-day Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit at the Agricultural Society of Kenya Showground in Jamhuri Park, Nairobi.
The summit brought together government officials, development partners and agricultural stakeholders to discuss progress in implementing reforms aimed at improving productivity and farmers' earnings.
During the meeting, the President defended the government's agricultural reforms, saying they had contributed to improvements in production and the livelihoods of farmers across different sectors.
He cited developments in the dairy industry, where annual milk production has increased from approximately 4.5 billion litres to 5.6 billion litres, making Kenya Africa's largest milk producer, according to the President.
Ruto attributed the growth partly to subsidised fertiliser, which he said had helped farmers increase the production of fodder and silage needed to sustain dairy cattle.
He added that dairy farmers were now earning approximately KSh50 per litre of milk, compared with KSh35 in 2022.
The President said the government was pursuing reforms similar to those undertaken in the sugar sector to address challenges that have hindered dairy farmers from expanding production.
“Like we reformed the sugar sector, we are doing the same in the dairy sector and getting rid of those frustrating farmers' efforts to increase milk production,” he said.
Ruto also assured fishing communities along the Coast that all 41 fish landing sites in the region had been gazetted. His remarks followed concerns raised by farmers and other stakeholders over fears that some landing sites could have been grabbed.
The President said the gazettement was intended to address concerns surrounding the sites and provide clarity on their status.
In another announcement, Ruto said the government had distributed at least 100,000 beehives to youth groups across the country as part of efforts to expand honey production and create additional income-generating opportunities.
The initiative is expected to encourage young people to venture into apiculture while contributing to the growth of Kenya's agricultural economy.
World Bank Country Director for Kenya Qimiao Fan said agriculture remained central to increasing household incomes, reducing poverty and supporting sustainable economic growth.
International Fund for Agricultural Development Country Director for Kenya Matteo Marchisio, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki also addressed the summit.
The announcements form part of the government's wider agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to increase productivity, strengthen value addition, improve market access and raise earnings for farmers across the country.
