VOICED : Kenya tea producers turn over a new leaf as prices stumble

Kenya's tea industry is facing challenges as traditional black tea prices fall. To adapt, the industry is diversifying into orthodox teas, similar to those produced in Sri Lanka, to enter new markets like Russia. This shift involves retraining workers and changing production methods, which is costly and challenging. Despite these efforts, orthodox teas still make up a small fraction of exports. Critics argue that the Kenya Tea Development Agency has been slow to adapt, with only a few factories producing orthodox tea by 2019.

What challenges are faced by workers in the transition to orthodox tea production?

How do the preferences of consumers in new markets like Russia influence the production of tea in Kenya?