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: 23 May 2016; Hits: 7150

Purple tea to end farmers' agony as black tea prices fall

Kenya farmers would reap more from the huge demand for purple tea in the global markets, thanks to its numerous health benefits over the common black and green varieties.
Health benefits
According to Philip Langat, a researcher at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Orgnisation’s Tea Research Institute, the TRFK 306 variety contains anthocyanin which boosts resistance to cardiovascular attacks.
At the same time, anthocyanin has high antioxidants effects against cancer. This variety has also less caffeine content as compared to black and green tea types. This makes it more attractive to the increasingly health conscious consumers.
TRFK 306 was unveiled in 2011 after a 25-year research.
High returns
The researcher regrets that despite the tremendous commercial benefits of purple tea, there is only one processing plant in the country-Kangaita, which processes a dismal 400kg annually. Half a kilogram of purple tea leaves goes for Sh2,600 while a similar amount of the black tea retails at Sh200.
Langat added that the purple variety is resistant to various tea diseases including grey blight and requires less fertilizer, hence lower production costs. The variety can grow in any region in the country with a high altitude and average annual rainfall of at least 800mm.
Black tea market saturation hurting farmers
The global market has for three years experienced saturation of black tea forcing the commodity price to depreciate by almost 40 per cent in 2014. This global price fall continues to endanger the economic livelihood of smallholder farmers who contributes up to 70 per cent of the country’s total export. In 2014 for instance, farmers earned Sh17.61 per kilo in bonus compared to an average of 27.61 last year. The average price of a kilogram of black tea leaves is Sh14, according to the Kenya Tea Development Authority
India and China lead the world in purple tea production and a report by the World Tea News shows that most of it is consumed domestically, leaving less for the external hungry markets in Europe and Japan.

Tags: Purple Tea, Tea Research Institute

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: 23 May 2016; Hits: 7648

Export Council's free product development course to give Kenyan farmers tips on how to penetrate the rich export market

The Export Promotion Council is rolling out a product development programme for enterprises and groups engaged in value addition of agricultural products starting this ?year.

The aim of the programme is to assist groups and enterprises to produce high quality products that meet the international market requirements and standards and for mainstreaming into the export process.
?This is good news to many farmers in the country who are keen to plunge into the lucrative export market but lack key information on how to prepare their produce for external markets.

According to the council, enterprises or farmer groups engaging in agricultural value addition especially in foodstuffs, beverages, processed fruits, vegetables and dairy products will be given the first priority.

Selected farmer groups will be offered training on modern trends in product development, design and packaging. They will also be taken through on assessment and certification procedures, quality assurance by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, test marketing of newly developed or modified products at an international trade promotion event and how to develop and design marketing materials for export market.

These opportunities will favor registered farmer enterprises since that is a major condition to enter into export market. Registered farmer companiesto download forms from www.epc.org, fill them and submit them directly to the council’s regional offices in Eldoret, Mombasa and the head office at Anniversary Towers, Nairobi.

The Eldoret office is located at 2nd Floor, National Bank Building, Oloo Street while the coast region farmers can visit 2nd Floor, Uni Plaza, and Aga Khan Rd. off Moi Avenue. They can also fill and send them online to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before 15th December 2015.

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This product development programme is entirely free. Training isconducted at agreed location between EPC officials and the companies.
Visit www.epc.org or call the head office on +254 722 205 875 or 734 228 534 for more information.

Tags: Export promotion council

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: 23 May 2016; Hits: 5749

Here are the agribusiness acceleration opportunities farmers in East Africa should look forward to in 2016

Accelerator hubs have managed to mold and finance some of high riding agribusinesses across the world. Although most innovative ideas are selected at the end of the day, some people with brilliant agribusiness ideas have missed on such opportunities due to lack of information.

As we approach 2016, we have decided to highlight some of agribusiness opportunities, requirements and their application deadlines. You never know, 2016 may just be the year to actualize your agribusiness idea.

1. Spark Kenya-28th November 2015 application deadline
This annual accelerator programme normally targets entrepreneurs in Kenya who are at the early stages of building businesses and organizations that exist to change the lives of Kenyans. It entails an intensive five day live-in workshop in Nairobi where selected start ups join a small group of Spark entrepreneurs and access world class entrepreneurship training designed to help those startups to focus their business and accelerate the growth of your venture.

Startups are later connected to experts and professionals who can help them launch and grow businesses. They are also given a three year free access to graphic designers, website creators, business coaches, mentors, research assistants, lawyers and accountants to assist them on technical issues.

During this period, selected start ups can apply for small grants ranging between Sh15000 and Sh20000 to help them overcome barriers and test ideas to grow the impact or sustainability. The programme will be held between January 17th and 22nd 2016.

For application details, kindly visit www.sparkinternational.org/spark-kenya/

2. Growth Africa Accelerator programme-17th January 2016 application deadline
The 8th Agribusiness accelerator programme is now targeting startups from Kenya and Uganda. Besides possible seed funds of about $100,000?, the programme offers participants a one-on-one mentorship and networking through a diverse ensemble of thought leaders, experienced business executives, successful entrepreneurs and investors.

It also entails Intensive series of workshops providing tools and insights, improving startups’ entrepreneurial abilities and leadership. The 2016 programme commences on 9th and 16th March in Nairobi and Kampala respectively with last applications expected by 17th January 2016.

For more information and application, kindly visit www.growthafrica/NairobiKampala2016
We will continue updating opportunities immediately they are announced, so keep checking our site for we want to you to propel your agribusiness idea to unimaginable heights in 2016.