Adoption of Purple Tea in Kenya:Status, Opportunities and Challenges.

Abstract

Tea in Kenya is mostly produced by smallholder farmers who sell it through the Kenya Tea Development Agency(KTDA). Te growing is a rural based economy that contributes significantly to poverty alleviation in rural areas. Nationally Tea contributes to about 4% of the GDP. In 2011, the government approved commercial production of purple tea variety due to its high economic and medicinal values. Unfortunately, farmers are yet to embrace its production fully. This study sought to investigate the status of purple tea in Mt. Kenya region , adoption, potential and challenges facing the adoption. Data was collected from farmmers in the region. Simple random sampling was used to select 356 tea farmers and 13 factory unit managers. Interview shedules were used for data collection . In 2011, only 1.4% of the farmers grew purple tea in the region by 2014, the number has risen to 26.1%, representing annual increase of about 6%. The main motivation towards the adoption was the economic value of the variety. The largest purple tea plantation by a single farmer covered 16 acres with marjority of the farmers owning less than 200 bushes. Although adoption of purple tea had greater potential,the rate of adoption remained relatively low in the region. This was attributed to inadequate knowledge about the variety. Only about 26.1% had knowledge about the variety, out of which only 5.8% possesed adequate knowledge. Hesistant commitment to promote purple tea by processors posed another challenge alongside small size land, market uncertainity, lack of processing plant for the variety and socio-cultural factors. With adequate training,established markets and support from the processors , farmers indicated willingness to grow purple tea. Thus, the study recommended training on purple tea husbandry,manufacture, marketing and Value addition.