The inaugural Tea Belt Conference and Innovation Exhibition was staged at the Kericho Township Technical and Vocational College to celebrate the strides made in the tea industry and address the challenges encountered in the sector that is among the leading foreign exchange earner in Kenya.
Statistics from the Tea Board of Kenya indicate that the tea industry contributes about 23 percent of total foreign exchange earnings and 2 percent of the Agricultural GDP, with over 450 million kilograms of tea produced annually earning the country over Sh120 billion in export earnings, and Sh22.0 billion on local sales.
During the conference brought together key stakeholders in the tea industry it emerged that the tea sector supports about 5 million people directly and indirectly while an estimated 650,000 tea growers depend on it, making the industry one of the leading sources of livelihood in the country.
Kericho County Director for TVET Dr. Peter Cheruiyot who was the chief guest at the event, highlighted the critical role for TVETs being in the frontline in capacity building, enhancing skills and knowledge to the players in the agricultural sector.
Dr. Cheruiyot said participants in the conference would benefit from various topics that will be discussed in-depth including innovations in tea production, sustainable farming practices, and the integration of modern technology into traditional agricultural methods.
“Tea has been more than just a crop; it has been a cornerstone of our economic development and cultural identity, and TVETs enhance the industry through imparting agricultural knowledge and skills especially to the young people,” said Dr. Cheruiyot.
At the same time, the Kericho County Chief Officer in charge of Trade, Industrialization and Cooperative Management Mr. Willy Rop, pointed out the critical role of TVET in fostering economic development, highlighting the need for continuous innovation and skill development to maintain Kenya’s competitive edge in the global tea market.
“Kericho’s tea industry stands at the forefront of our economic achievements, by investing in vocational education, we equip our workforce with the skills needed to drive sustainability and innovation in tea production,” added Rop.
The conference was also graced by representatives from the Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA), Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
Tea is grown in the highlands located within the West and East of Rift and on higher altitude of between 1,500 metres and 2,700 metres above Sea Level and grown on tropical volcanic red soils with well-distributed rainfall of between 1200 mm to 1400 mm per annum.
By Kibe Mburu and Collin Kemoi
