KALRO Tea Research Institute trained tea farmers from Nyeri on climate-smart tea production, improved cultivars, soil management and value addition to boost productivity and incomes.

KALRO Tea Research Institute Trains Nyeri Farmers

Tea farmers from Nyeri County have received training on climate-smart tea production, improved cultivars and value addition during a knowledge exchange visit to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization’s Tea Research Institute (KALRO-TRI) in Kericho.

The farmers, together with representatives from Iriani and Gathuthi Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) factories, visited the institute on July 14 to learn modern tea production practices that can improve productivity, tea quality and farmer incomes.

The delegation included factory board members, management teams, tea buying centre committee members and staff from the two factories.

Farmers Learn Modern Tea Production Technologies

The team was received by KALRO-Tea Research Institute Director Lilian Kerio, Deputy Director Dr. Richard Chalo and Dr. Simon Oduor Ochanda, Head of the Tea Processing and Value Addition Programme.

During the visit, farmers attended technical sessions covering improved tea varieties, tea breeding, soil health, plant nutrition, nursery management and integrated pest and disease management.

They also received training on the health benefits of tea and opportunities for value addition to increase returns from the crop.

Focus on Climate-Resilient Tea Varieties

Dr. Chalo encouraged farmers to adopt improved, climate-resilient tea cultivars developed by the institute to help maintain production under changing weather conditions.

Kerio highlighted KALRO’s ongoing collaboration with KTDA in strengthening extension services through the training of field coordinators and tea extension officers.

She also noted the institute’s involvement in the FAO-supported Low-Carbon Tea Project, which promotes sustainable tea production practices.

Value Addition Offers New Market Opportunities

As part of the visit, the farmers toured KALRO’s tea nursery, demonstration fields and cottage processing factory.

The tour gave participants an opportunity to observe how specialty teas and other value-added products are processed for premium local and export markets.

Researchers said value addition can help tea farmers earn higher returns by diversifying products beyond conventional black tea.

KALRO Tea Research Institute Trains Nyeri Farmers

Partnership Supports Kenya’s Tea Industry

KALRO said the visit reinforces its partnership with KTDA in promoting research-based technologies that improve tea production, quality and market competitiveness.

The institute added that continued collaboration between researchers, extension officers and farmers will help accelerate the adoption of improved technologies while supporting sustainable growth in Kenya’s tea industry.

The farmers returned to Nyeri with practical knowledge on modern tea farming and value addition that is expected to strengthen production and improve incomes in the country’s tea-growing regions.

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