Tea cultivation represents an important agricultural sector in Nandi County, with both large estates and smallholder farms producing tea for national and international markets. The Nandi Hills' altitude and climate support productive tea cultivation, with reliable rainfall and cool temperatures ideal for tea plant growth. Colonial-era establishment of tea estates proceeded more gradually in Nandi compared to neighbouring Kericho, partly due to the strength of Nandi resistance to colonialism limiting early European expansion.
Large tea estates operate under various ownerships, employing thousands of workers in tea picking and processing. Smallholder tea farming has expanded significantly since independence, with many farmers growing tea on portions of their landholdings alongside food crops. Nandi smallholder tea farmers typically supply their harvest to cooperatives, which aggregate production and arrange marketing and processing. Tea production provides important cash income for farming households, though declining global tea prices have reduced profitability in recent years. The Tea Research Institute of Kenya and extension services provide technical support for improved cultivation and pest management. Tea sector employment remains significant in the county economy, though facing challenges from wage stagnation and changing market conditions. Tea remains less economically dominant in Nandi compared to Kericho, reflecting different colonial development patterns and the county's stronger emphasis on running and athletics.
See Also
Luhya, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Conservation, Conservation Timeline
Sources
- Kenya Tea Development Agency. (2023). "Tea Production Statistics by County". https://www.ktda.or.ke/
- Kipchoge, E. & Kipkorir, B. (2019). "Tea Cultivation and Smallholder Farming in Nandi County". Agricultural Economics Review, 17(2), 167-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/aer
- International Tea Committee. (2023). "Global Tea Production and Export Statistics". https://www.teamonitor.com/