Kenya's tea production drops on drought

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Tea Board Managing Director Sicily Kariuki blamed adverse weather conditions especially in the east of the Rift Valley, where production fell by 32%.

"We have witnessed prolonged dry weather conditions especially east of the Rift, which would largely account for that difference," she said when releasing the results in Nairobi.

The situation, she said, is set to remain gloomy with the board's chief executive projecting a 10% drop in production for the full year.

Tea exports dropped by 10% in the six-month period to stand at 225 million kilograms, Kariuki said.

"Our traditional markets took up 74% of total exports while 26% went to other 39 destinations," she added.

Egypt leads the way with 52 million kilograms or 23%, followed by Britain and Pakistan.

Kariuki however said that demand and supply factors would see farmers get higher returns due to the global shortfall of tea.

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