Kenyan tea production fell by 19 percent in the first half of 2006 to 134 million kilogrammes (295.4 million pounds) due to a drought in the first quarter of this year, marketers said on Tuesday.
Production declined by 32 million kilogrammes from 166 million (by 70.5 million from 366 million pounds) recorded during the same period last year, with the highest drop registered in tea growing regions in the Rift Valley Province, Tea Board of Kenya chief Sicily Kariuki said in a statement.
She attributed the decline to a severe drought that withered tea bushes in most tea growing regions.
“Despite the recovery of tea bushes owing to long rains experienced between the months of March and May, production shortfall recorded during the first quarter could not be offset due to subdued growth occasioned by the onset of the cold season weather,” Kariuki added.
Due to the drop in production, tea export volumes fell from the same period last year.
However, traditional buyers in Ireland and Kazakhstan increased their tea imports from Kenya while Poland recorded a drop.
During the period, local tea consumption rose by 12 percent from 6.6 million kilos to 7.4 million kilos due to local promotion undertaken by the Board along with the tea packers.
