Kenya unveils mosquito-resistant tea clones 

KENYA – Kenya’s tea industry has received a major boost with the launch of mosquito bug-resistant tea clones developed by the Tea Research Institute (TRI), aimed at increasing productivity and improving resilience in the face of climate and pest challenges. 

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono flagged off 400,000 seedlings of the newly developed varieties, which are set to be distributed to farmers across key tea-growing regions in the country. The improved tea clones are also high-yielding and climate-smart, offering a sustainable approach to persistent issues in the tea sector. 

Speaking at the flag-off event, PS Rono commended the TRI for its contributions toward tea quality improvement and variety development.  

He noted that the institution, established in 1952, has played a key role not only in Kenya but across East Africa and is critical to the government’s strategy to enhance agricultural productivity. 

TRI Managing Director Lilian Kerio said the institute has developed 62 tea varieties so far, all of which are pest-resistant, high-yielding, and adapted to changing climate conditions.  

She added that adaptability trials were carried out in both the East and West of the Rift Valley to ensure the clones’ suitability in major tea-producing zones. 

Kerio emphasized TRI’s expanded research into value addition and the broader challenges facing the tea industry, such as declining market prices and overproduction of CTC (Crush, Tear, Curl) tea.  

She noted the institute continues to provide expert guidance to industry stakeholders on sustainability and competitiveness. 

Government reviews coffee payment policy 

The launch of the new tea clones coincides with rising tensions in Kenya’s coffee sector, where the government is reconsidering its directive requiring farmers to be paid directly via mobile money or bank accounts. 

The policy, introduced in 2023 by Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, aimed to ensure prompt payments after auction sales.  

However, coffee farmers and cooperative leaders argue the move threatens the viability of cooperative societies, which provide essential services such as credit access, financial management, and farming inputs. 

Simon Mureithi, a coffee society chairman in Nyeri, warned that dismantling cooperatives could leave farmers financially vulnerable and unable to invest in their farms.  

While proponents of the Direct Settlement System (DSS) believe it could improve transparency and farmer income, many in Mt Kenya and Rift Valley regions view it as disruptive. 

CS Oparanya recently stated that the implementation details rest with Parliament. Government sources have indicated the DSS rollout is being reconsidered amid fears it could destabilize the entire coffee industry. 

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.