China to partner with Kenya in tea farming

By Peter Mutai in Hong Kong

Major players in China’s tea industry are looking into possibilities of partnering with Kenya’s small-scale farmers to grow high yielding tea varieties to meet rising demand.

Chinese Tea Culture Association Director Herman Cheng said his organisation would conduct studies on suitable climatic conditions where tea is grown, including South Africa.

In an interview with The Standard on Saturday at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre breakfast meeting for exhibitors, Mr Cheng said the move is driven by the need for land to grow tea.

He said demand for land in China was high owing to the rising population, which stands at 1.3 billion.

"We believe partnering with small-scale farmers from Kenya and Africa is the only way to go," he added.

He said Chinese tea culture has a long history and encouraged researchers to carry out studies on the importance of tea as a medicinal plant.

The trade fair dubbed Hong Kong International Tea Fair, which has attracted 250 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, including major tea producing countries, was sponsored by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). "We want to help small-scale farmers have a better life out of the tea industry by empowering them with good crop husbandry that will lead to better returns," he said.

Exchange programmes

He said Kenya and China have cordial relationships through exchange programmes not only in trade but in culture.

HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Raymond Yip said Hong Kong has positioned itself as a major trading hub in Asia and the world owing to its free port, free flow of information and capital.

"As a culinary paradise, Hong Kong is ideally placed to provide the necessary platform in growth areas such as tea and food," he dded.

Mr Yip said Hong Kong hosted the tea fair to facilitate global trade, build Hong Kong as the major trading hub of Asia and encourage tea culture.

During the three-day trade fair, Mrs Sicily Kariuki, Tea Board of Kenya managing director presented a public lecture on the strengths and development of tea auction in Mombasa.