County to host two crucial international forums on tea

A Tea farm in Nandi Hills taken on 31st September 2015. PHOTO:WILBERFORCE OKWIRI

The county will next month host two crucial international conferences to discuss key issues in tea trade.

The African Tea Science Symposium and Exhibition will run from May 23 to 25 while the 22nd Session of the FAO Intergovernmental Group (FAO IGG) on Tea will be held from May 25 to 27, all in Naivasha.

The issues to be deliberated include tea trade, policy and governance, product diversification, innovative technologies in production and processing, climate change and mitigation as well as tea health and consumer.

According Dunstan Ngummo, one of the members of the national planning committee, the conferences will attract over 400 delegates from over 10 countries.

Speaking in Nakuru when he called on Governor Kinuthia Mbugua, Mr Ngummo said Nakuru was chosen as the host because of its strategic location, hospitality and as one of the 18 tea growing counties.

"The county is also centrally located and delegates can conveniently make field visits to farms in Kiambu and Kericho counties conveniently," said Ngummo.

FAO IGG on tea aims at fostering discussions from previous sessions on harmonisation on maximum residue levels for export to encourage growth and compliance. The event was last held in Indonesia.

The delegates will share experiences geared towards improving tea value chain as well as foster technological transfers.

Governor Mbugua pointed out Naivasha was the city of flowers in Kenya and expansion of the exhibition scope beyond tea will have a profound impact on the agricultural sector in the county and nation at large.

He commended the international community for deciding to hold the event in Kenya and Nakuru in particular, noting that the move shows the level of confidence the international community has on the nation and his county.

"The decision to hold these international events in Kenya is a great demonstration of the international community's confidence in our country," he said.

The governor was accompanied by Agriculture Executive Stanely Chepkwouny, his trade counterpart Ann Njenga among other county officials