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.