Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe With Ktda Chairman Chege Kirundi (left) and Ktda Ceo Wilson Muthaura (Proper). Photograph UGC.
By CHING IS IS IS IS
As Chairman of the Kenya Tea Growth Company (KTDA), I’ve had the distinctive privilege of partaking with numerous stakeholders in our tea worth chain; from smallholder farmers to worldwide patrons.
Over time, one actuality has develop into more and more clear: to make sure the long-term sustainability of our trade, we should innovate and diversify. One promising path lies in tea tourism, a sector that not solely enhances our core agricultural enterprise but in addition faucets into Kenya’s rising attraction as a cultural and eco-tourism vacation spot.
For a while now, I’ve been reflecting deeply on how tea tourism can bolster our sector’s sustainability and broaden our financial base. I strongly consider the time has come for KTDA to contemplate strategic investments on this space.
In reality, I’d encourage the Tea Analysis Basis to undertake a complete research to assist us perceive the alternatives, challenges, and roadmap for integrating tea tourism into our nationwide technique.
Tea tourism in Kenya gives a compelling alternative to merge cultural heritage, agriculture, and ecological stewardship. It creates a multi-dimensional customer expertise that may entice vacationers from world wide, desirous to discover our tea landscapes, meet the farmers behind the cup, and perceive the tales rooted in each harvest.
As a part of this imaginative and prescient, we’re exploring the employment of a curator who will probably be liable for archiving tea historical past and conceptualising a tea museum. This museum will home tea artifacts and inform the untold story of Kenya’s tea journey, a wealthy and complicated narrative that deserves its rightful place in our nationwide heritage.
Kenya’s tea story dates again to 1903, when the primary seedlings have been launched by British settlers. Over the many years, we’ve got risen to develop into one of many world’s main tea exporters, contributing roughly 22 % to the worldwide tea commerce.
This legacy isn’t solely agricultural; it’s deeply cultural. Kenyan tea displays a mix of colonial heritage and native traditions, a fusion to be celebrated and shared with the world.
A tea picker in a tea plantation in Kericho. PHOTO/UGC
Think about guided excursions by way of lush, rolling tea gardens within the highlands, the place guests can witness first-hand the meticulous processes of cultivation and plucking. From withering to fermentation, drying to packaging, vacationers can observe the leaf’s journey from bush to cup. For the tea connoisseur, curated tastings and brewing approach workshops supply a pleasant exploration of flavour and craftsmanship.
Cultural integration is one other thrilling prospect. Conventional tea ceremonies, storytelling, and native music will be woven into the vacationer expertise. Collaborations with artisans, crafting tea-inspired pottery or woven packaging can enhance the inventive economic system. Culinary pairings of Kenyan teas with native dishes, and themed occasions that includes tea-infused menus, can entice world meals and journey fans.
A novel alternative lies in integrating tea tourism with power tourism. KTDA owns over 12 hydropower tasks strategically positioned in tea-growing areas. Totally operational vegetation corresponding to Imenti, Decrease Nyamindi, Gura, North Mathioya, Chania, and Nyambunde at present provide energy to 17 tea factories and have not too long ago seen elevated electrical energy manufacturing on account of heavy rains.
A number of others, together with South Mara, Iraru, Rupingazi, Kipsonoi, and Chemosit, are underneath development or growth. Extra tasks in feasibility or tendering phases embrace Kathita, Kiringa, Ragati, Gatamaiyu, Nyamasege, Taunet, and Kapolet.
KTDA additionally plans to determine 16 new vegetation, with extra potential websites like Ura, Kiptiget, and Nandi Forest. The mixed put in capability ranges from 1 MW to 9 MW.
These services not solely present clear, renewable, and inexpensive power, decreasing manufacturing unit operational prices, but in addition current a chance to include power tourism into our diversification technique.
Guests can find out about inexperienced power manufacturing whereas touring tea factories. An academic element that blends expertise, sustainability, and agriculture in an interesting approach. This synergy opens the door for eco-tourism investments, together with the event of eco-lodges in licensed forested zones adjoining to tea plantations.
Considered one of KTDA’s hydro energy vegetation. PHOTO/UGC.
These would supply immersive, sustainable experiences and create employment alternatives for native communities. Vacationers might participate in tree planting, find out about wildlife conservation, and interact in community-based actions , all whereas having fun with the scenic fantastic thing about tea nation.
Our tourism technique also can plug into current frameworks. Kenya’s Tourism Board has already developed tourism circuits in each Western and Jap Kenya. We are able to combine into these circuits, bringing visibility to tea-growing areas and driving on established networks to drive visitors to our eco and tea tourism hubs.
Importantly, this initiative would offer extra income for over 350,000 smallholder tea farmers, who already profit from KTDA’s infrastructure. By tapping into Kenya’s Ksh 4 billion annual tourism income, tea and power tourism might develop into viable sources of supplementary revenue, boosting resilience and livelihoods in rural areas.
The time is ripe. Tea tourism has taken root in international locations like Vietnam and China. Kenya should observe swimsuit, not simply to showcase our excellence, however to redefine the way forward for our tea trade.
A thoughtfully designed pilot programme, knowledgeable by an in depth feasibility research, needs to be our start line. This may assist us gauge infrastructure wants, market potential, neighborhood readiness, and environmental dangers.
KTDA has the organisational framework, networks, and credibility to guide this transformation. With strategic partnerships, together with authorities tourism companies, conservation NGOs, native communities, and worldwide tour operators, we will develop a dynamic ecosystem the place tea, power, tradition, and nature converge.
Kenya’s tea sector stands at a crossroads. As world markets evolve and local weather challenges mount, we should future-proof our trade. Tea and power tourism will not be distractions; they’re pure extensions of what we already do, rising world-class tea whereas stewarding our land and heritage.
The world already drinks our tea. It’s time they got here to see the place it grows and meet the individuals who make it distinctive.
The author is the Chairman of the Kenya Tea Growth Company (KTDA).
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