1 day ago
Climate Strain Raises British Tea Prices as Kenyan Farmers Struggle
Tea prices in Britain are rising partly because growing tea has become harder.
Kenyan farmers are dealing with heavy rain, heat, storms and drought.
These weather changes can damage tea plants and reduce the amount farmers can harvest.
Some farmers are also paying more to keep their farms running.
Fairtrade found that only one in five surveyed Kenyan tea farmers earned enough to cover basic family needs.
This means shoppers may pay more without farmers automatically becoming better off.
Lidl has introduced a Kenyan tea that gives growers extra money intended to support a living income.
The tea costs £1.99 for 80 bags.
The story shows how changing weather can affect both farmers and the price of an everyday drink.
Unpredictable rainfall, heat, storms and drought are reducing tea yields in western Kenya.
Fintea reported that production across five cooperatives fell 30% in May and June compared with normal levels.
Fairtrade found that only one in five surveyed Kenyan tea farmers earned enough to cover essential family costs.
Kenyan farmers supply around half of the black tea consumed in Britain, where about 100 million cups are drunk daily.
Lidl launched an £1.99 Kenyan tea that adds a living-income payment for growers beyond Fairtrade’s existing payments.
- Who
- Kenyan tea farmers, Fairtrade, Lidl and British tea consumers.
- What
- Climate-related crop damage and higher production costs are contributing to rising tea prices while many Kenyan farmers remain on low incomes.
- Where
- Tea-growing areas of western Kenya, including Kericho, Bomet and Kabartegan, and the British tea market.
- When
- The reported weather damage occurred during the current year, including production losses in May and June; Lidl’s tea launch is current to the report.
- Why
- Unpredictable weather is reducing harvests and raising costs, while the tea supply chain does not always provide farmers with enough income.
Key facts
- Kenyan supply share
- Kenyan farmers supply around half of the black tea consumed in Britain.
- Farmer income finding
- Only one in five Kenyan tea farmers surveyed by Fairtrade said they earned enough to cover essential family costs.
- Main reported challenge
- Fifty-five per cent of surveyed farmers identified changing weather patterns as their biggest challenge.
- Production decline
- Fintea reported a 30% fall in production across five cooperatives in May and June compared with normal harvests.
- Hailstorm losses
- A January hailstorm in Kabartegan caused estimated losses of 20,000 to 30,000 kilograms of tea production per day for about four months.
- Lidl product
- Lidl’s Way To Go! Single Origin Kenyan Tea costs £1.99 for 80 bags and includes an additional living-income payment for growers.
- British consumption
- Around 100 million cups of tea are consumed in Britain each day.
Quotes
Lilian Mutai Levin Langot
Kenyan tea farmer whose income was reduced after hailstorm damage
“Climate is really affecting our farmers. There has been a complete change as far as the weather is concerned.”
easterneye.biz
“It meant there was no income. There was nothing. We just had to survive.”
easterneye.biz
Kerrina Thorogood
Fairtrade Partnerships Director
“Addressing this challenge requires businesses to take responsibility for the prices they pay.”
easterneye.biz
Sources
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