Expansion of Tea Tree Production in Nanyuki Laikipia County

Tersea W. Ndirangu

Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Earthoil Company Limited and farmers within Nanyuki Laikipia County intend to expend tea tree production.  The project will be implemented for two years starting from July 2014. It is sponsored by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Fund (GEF) Small Grant Project (SGP).  The project aims to improve food security and livelihoods among small scale producers, women and youths of Laikipia County through agro ecological approaches and development of organic tea tree value chain.

A farmer at her Tea Tree farm

Tea Tree value chain is being promoted in arid and semi arid areas of Nanyuki due to its resilient properties.  The area is among the most affected by climate change effects such as long dry spells, unpredictable weather and environmental degradation.  Communities living in the County are a mixer of agriculturalists, pastoralists and ranchers. In addition, these community members have limited sources of income. The project therefore aims to expand the production of tea tree since it can withstand harsh dry conditions.  

Currently, the project is working with 460 farmers spread across Laikipia County (Matanya, Sweet Water, Marura and Ndurukuma).  With the current scale of production, the farmers are not able to meet the demand of tea tree oil.  As a result, the project intends to expand and include more framers from Ndurukuma, Thome, Kihato and Ngare Nyiro areas of Laikipia County in order to increase tea tree oil production hence meeting the demand. 

Tea tree is suitable in Laikipia County as it is more resilient to effects of climate change and does well in extreme harsh dry weather conditions. Tea Tree matures within 15 months after establishment and is harvested twice per year. The crop requires low labour input. It also requires less field management since it is not affected by pests, diseases or eaten by any domestic animals. The production of oil per biomass weight is very high compared to other crops therefore farmers return per unit area is higher than any other crop grown in this region.

After tea tree matures, it will produce to its maximum potential since it’s root system would have reached its limits of growth. During harvesting time, stem is done by cutting down the whole 15cm-20cm above the ground. This is done at an angle using bending saw. Panga is not recommended for use since it will injure the plant. The central stem is then removed. Branches and leaves are the one sold. 

After a period of time, the tree which was cut down will grow other shoots from the point where it was cut.  All the shoots are left to grow, and the farmer is advised to cut them back after 6 months. This is a continuing cycle. Tea Tree is expected to be highly productive for 25 years under good management.

Part of Processing unit

Earth Oil Company limited have signed a contract with the farmers to buy all the biomass of Tea Tree, extract the soil, bulk and export to  United Kingdom (UK) to a company called Body Shop. Body Shop Company makes  cosmetics. KOAN on other hand provides technical back-up on organic production, standards and certification aspects.

Tea Tree Stakeholders Hold Training for Farmers

By Teresa W. Ndirangu

The Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), and Earth Oil Extract Company organized a training for 98 tea tree farmers. The training on organic Tea Tree was organized for farmers in different regions of Laikipia County from 20^th to 22^nd August 2014.

The training which was facilitated by six (6) Earth Oil Extract Company and one (1) KOAN staff member, provided the farmers with an opportunity to learn about various issues that included; Improving farmers skills and understanding of organic Tea Tree production, benefits of both organic and fair trade, organic standard, certification process, environmental protection required and sanctions faced by farmers who violate the standards.

Training at Timau

The expansion of Tea Tree production in Laikipia County is being supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grant Project (SGP) through a two (2) year grant project.

KOAN and Earth Oil Extract Company intend to mobilize, recruit and train 500 farmers to grow organic Tea Tree by end of 2015. Already 180 farmers have been recruited in the project.

The training was organized in three clusters with Timau region occurring on 20^th August 2014, Marura region training took place on 21^st August 2014 at Irura Primary School while Huku, Mwireri and Gatuanugi region training taking place at Earth Oil Hall on 22^nd August 2014. A total of 98 farmers were trained with men being 51 while female were 47.

Earth Oil Extract Company works directly with farmers by providing them with extension services, internal inspections and other advisory services. The company undertook the mobilization and recruitment of the new farmers in the months of June, July and early August 2014. 

KOAN on the other gave technical support to Earth Oil extension staff especially on organic production, standards and certification among others.

All the farmers after training were given small boxes for safe chemical storage and organic sorghum seeds to be planted as buffer to protect chemical drift in the Tea Tree plots.

In case of more information about Tea tree contact Teresia Wairimu at teresan@koan.co.ke.