Kenyan tea farmers warn of climate impacts on yields and income

Tea farmers in Kenya, who supply approximately half of the black tea consumed in the United Kingdom, are warning that climate change is severely impacting crop yields and household incomes. In the western regions of Kericho and Bomet, unpredictable weather patterns—including unseasonal heat, heavy rainfall during dry periods, and intense storms—have led to significant production losses.

Nelson Ngeno, manager of the tea farming cooperative union Fintea, reported that production across five cooperatives fell by 30% in May and June compared to typical harvests. Additionally, unprecedented hailstorms in the Kabartegan district caused daily losses estimated between 20,000 and 30,000kg over a four-month recovery period.

While these supply issues have contributed to rising global tea prices and higher costs for UK consumers, local growers report receiving little of the financial benefit. Farmers face escalating operational expenses and diminished harvests, while profits are largely absorbed by intermediaries, brokers, and large corporations. Many agricultural workers state they can no longer cover basic living expenses or invest in necessary climate resilience measures for their farms.