BY ANGELA R. KIURA
At least 2,209 tea farmers from Kathangariri Tea Factory in Embu County have graduated from a six-month training programme aimed at improving tea production, diversifying income, and boosting livelihoods.
The initiative, under the Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods (MSULLi) Programme, was implemented by the Rainforest Alliance in partnership with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Foundation and Kathangariri Tea Factory.
Farmers were trained in regenerative agriculture, climate-smart practices, riparian zone protection, agribusiness, crop diversification, home economics, and value addition.
Speaking during the Farmers’ Field School Graduation Day on Thursday, Rainforest Alliance representative Susan Kinyua said the programme was designed to make tea farming more profitable and resilient to climate change.
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“I congratulate all the farmers who have completed this course. The knowledge gained will positively impact both their lives and the environment,” Kinyua said, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to supporting farmers through training, resources, and market linkages.
KTDA Foundation representative and MSULLi programme officer Allan Kinuthia said the initiative also seeks to expand market access for smallholder farmers, noting that training is ongoing in eight KTDA factories—five in Kirinyaga and three in Embu—with a target of reaching 25,000 farmers. So far, 14,062 farmers have been trained.
Kathangariri Tea Factory Chairperson Moses Kamau welcomed the partnership, saying it would enhance production, improve wages, and uplift farmers’ livelihoods.
Chief Guest Maureen Muthoni Njuguna from the Ministry of Cooperatives in Embu County described the programme as a transformative step for the tea sector and urged more farmers to enrol in future sessions.
Graduates expressed gratitude for the training, with Jane Njeru from Mbuvori citing skills in diversified farming, yoghurt production, and soap making, which she said would help increase her income and support her family.
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