Kenya is the leading exporter of black CTC teas in the world accounting for about 22% of global exports. Kenya exports tea to the entire world major markets being the European Union, United State of America, Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Tea is grown on the Kenyan highlands (1500m-2700m), with alluvial soils, giving it a unique quality and taste. Over 90% of Kenya’s tea is manufactured using Cut, Tear and Curl (CTC) method to ensure maximum cuppage per unit weight.

Other high value teas available are from the Specialty tea sector and include orthodox (leaf) purple, white, yellow, green and red teas.

Kenyan tea is natural, fresh and premium because it has;

• No pesticides or agro-chemicals

• High husbandry practices and selection of high-quality varieties

• Skillful processing practices - No additives, preservatives, or artificial coloring leading

to realization of highest quality

• Efficient marketing infrastructure

• Grown in favorable weather and available all year

• Market Compliance - Adherence to Global Standards (ISO 22000, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Exchange traded products (ETP), Fair Trade and Rain Forest Alliance)

The quality of Kenya tea is maintained through the fine plucking of two leaves and a bud and continuous research in the best manufacturing practices. All the factories operate within the Quality Management System (QMS) & Food Safety Management System (FSMS) providing assurance to consumers worldwide.

SISAL

Sisal in Kenya is predominantly grown by ten (10) sisal estates spread across the Coast, Eastern and Rift Valley regions of the country.

Small pockets of production by smallholder growers are spread all over the arid and semi-arid lands of the country, forming about 5% of the total production.

Production in 2020 has been the highest at 30,327.53 MT (an equivalent of 1,010,917.67 MT green leaf), out of which 29,644.37 MT was from Estates, and rest, 683.16 MT, from smallholder farmers in the last five years.

Over 80% of Kenya’s sisal fibre produced is exported to over 30 destinations worldwide. The major export destinations include Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, China and Morocco.

Sisal is used to manufacture twine, ropes, string, and yarn which can also be woven into carpets, mats, and various handicrafts. Sisal pulp and paper contains a high proportion of cellulose. Its pulp is a substitute for wood fibres and adds bulk to paper and cardboard as well as being absorbent and having high fold endurance characteristics making it a high-quality input for paper products. Given its porosity, it can also be used in cigarette paper filters, tea bags and other similar products.

Kenyan sisal is also used for polishing steel, reinforcing plastic in automobiles, boats, furniture, water tanks, darts boards and pipes. Sisal can also be used to add strength in cement mixtures for the development of low-cost housing and to replace asbestos in roofing and brake-pads. The by-products from sisal extraction can be used for making biogas, pharmaceutical ingredients and building material.

Kenya’s Pyrethrum industry remains a significant contributor to the local and international pesticide industry through the supply of environmentally friendly pyrethrins (pyrethrum extracts) that are extracted from dry pyrethrum flowers and used in the manufacturing of agricultural, industrial and domestic classes of pest control products.

Pyrethrum is grown in 19 counties in the country namely; Nakuru, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Laikipia, Meru, Embu, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma (Mt. Elgon), Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Murang’a, and Nyamira. The ideal growing conditions are reliable rainfall (crop can also be irrigated for high productivity) and rich volcanic soils.

Kenya remains the preferred provider of high-quality pyrethrum extract internationally because of the environmental-friendly nature of pyrethrum products. There is an untapped potential for production of over 20,000 Metric Tons per annum of dry pyrethrum flowers annually estimated to generate KES 7.5 billion in foreign exchange. In addition, there is potential for development of a wide range of products from pyrethrum extract to complement the crude and refined extracts that constitute 98% of the exported products mainly sold to insecticides formulators.

Pyrethrum is used to manufacture aerosol insecticide sprays for use in and around homes to control cockroaches, mosquitoes, houseflies and other insects. Pyrethrum products are also used against insects and arthropod pests in food handling and storage facilities because of its low mammalian toxicity, animal pens and head lice control. 

Pyrethrum is a classified poison under poisons and drugs regulations in various countries and is therefore traded by registration for traceability and safety. Thus, pyrethrum sales, distribution and usage are heavily regulated by consumer countries through legislation.

The European, United States of America and Canadian markets are the major markets for Kenya pyrethrum since these economies are generally stable and consumers have relatively high disposable income and have regard for natural products. Kenya maintains traditional good reputation and dominant position in the worldwide supply of pyrethrum and has potential for increasing flower production.

The wide geographical and climatic diversity together with complementary irrigation have allowed production throughout the year of different types of fruits that target both domestic and export markets.

The fruits grown in Kenya include banana, mango, pineapple, avocado, watermelon, pawpaw, lime, orange, purple passion, yellow passion, tree tomato, lemons, guavas, tangerine, loquats, pears, grapefruit, grapes, plums, sweet melon, custard apple, strawberries, apples, thorn melon, peaches, pepino melon and jackfruit.

The horticulture industry in Kenya continues to attract investors due to the solid infrastructure, favourable climate, global positioning of Kenya and productive workforce. It comprises large, medium and small-scale producers who have attained high management standards and have invested heavily in value addition through adoption of modern technology in production, precision farming and marketing.

The farmers utilise modern technologies some of which includes drip irrigation, fertigation systems, greenhouse ventilation systems, net shading, fertilizer recycling systems to prevent wastage, use of wetlands for wastewater treatment, artificial lighting to increase day length for long day crops, and post-harvest handling facilities and techniques.

The Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) ensure the country produces quality horticulture products that comply to international Phytosanitary Standards. Kenya is a major exporter of horticulture produce to the European Union, United States of America, Russia, Australia, Asia and Africa.

In addition, there are several initiatives to support fruits production and value addition. Through industry trade associations, the Fresh Produce Exporters Associations of Kenya, Avocado Society of Kenya and Fresh Produce Consortium, the producers assist each other in both technical and marketing aspects by disseminating technical information to farmers such as standards specifications and enforcing compliance.

The airfreight infrastructure at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi is instrumental in facilitating high volume of export of fresh fruits from Kenya. The Cargo Apron at JKIA has now been expanded to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts at any one time with transit sheds equipped with state-of-the-art cold rooms. The Mombasa Sea Port also provides facilities to export fruits.

The wide geographical and climatic diversity together with complementary irrigation has allowed the production of vegetables throughout the year that target both local and international markets. The vegetables grown in Kenya include tomato, cabbage, kales, garden peas, french beans, spinach, snow peas, carrots, pepper, snap peas, butternut, broccoli, runner beans, courgette, cauliflory, beetroots, baby corn, radish, sweet corn, lettuce and turnips.

The Asia vegetables grown in Kenya include eggplant, dudhi, okra, karella, tindori, turia and valor. The country is also producing aromatic plants which include; bulb onions, spring onions, coriander, garlic, long cayenne, bixa, rosemary, stevia, lemongrass, bullet chilli, parsley, ginger, chives, leeks, turmeric, basil, vanilla, celery and jatropha.

The horticulture industry in Kenya continues to attract investors due to the solid infrastructure, favourable climate, global positioning of Kenya and productive workforce. It comprises large, medium and small-scale producers who have attained high management standards and have invested heavily in value addition through adoption of modern technology in production, precision farming and marketing. The farmers utilize modern technologies some of which includes drip irrigation, fertigation systems, greenhouse ventilation systems, net shading, fertilizer recycling systems to prevent wastage, use of wetlands for wastewater treatment, artificial lighting to increase day length for long day crops, and post-harvest handling facilities and techniques.

The Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) ensure the country produces quality horticulture products that comply with international Phytosanitary Standards. Kenya is a major exporter of horticulture produce to the European Union, United States of America, Russia, Australia, Asia and Africa.

In addition, there are a number of initiatives to support fruits production and value addition. Through industry trade associations, the Fresh Produce Exporters Associations of Kenya, and Fresh Produce Consortium, the producers assist each other in both technical and marketing aspects by disseminating technical information to farmers such as standards specifications and in enforcing compliance.

The airfreight infrastructure at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is instrumental in facilitating high volume of export of fresh vegetables from Kenya. The Cargo Apron at JKIA has now been expanded to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts at any one time with transit sheds equipped with state-of-the-art cold rooms. The Mombasa Sea Port also provides facilities to export vegetables.

Kenya fish and fisheries products are listed among the country’s principal export products.

The fish and fisheries products are sourced from the vast marine and inland water resources that the country is endowed with. This has supported a robust fish processing industry that has been behind the country’s fish exports’ success. These include:

• Kenya coastline- 640 km on the Western Indian Ocean, besides a further 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under Kenyan jurisdiction. The country’s coast is also located within the rich tuna belt in the Southwest Indian Ocean.

• Kenyan EEZ -commercial fishing is mainly exploited by Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFN) and has an estimated potential of between 150,000 to 300,000 metric tonnes.

• Kenya inland water resources- include lakes, dams and rivers of varying sizes. 

• Aquaculture, whose development the government has been promoting as a source of livelihood and food for rural community, is also another source of fish.

• Aquarium fish business

The fish industry

The fisheries industry in Kenya is mainly run by the private sector (fishers, associations, and industry) with government providing policy, and a regulatory environment.

Fish and fish products

• Nile Perch fish, fresh or chilled fish fillets 
• Tuna frozen fish whole
• Assorted marine fish –whole frozen
• Tilapia fish - (dried, salted, smoked fish)
• Crustaceans- lobsters, shrimps (live, fresh, frozen)
• Mollusks – oysters, octopus and squids (shell or not, live, fresh, chilled)

Markets

The target export markets include; the European Union (EU), Britain, the United States of America (USA), Japan, China, Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, the East African Community (EAC), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Coffee production

Kenya’s coffee production is mainly influenced by five main factors: the climate, the soil, the coffee cultivars, the agronomy and the processing methods.

Climate

The climatic conditions in Kenya are largely determined by the equatorial location of the country and the influence of the wind system of the adjoining Indian Ocean. This climate is suitable for growing coffee. In Kenya, coffee cultivation is mainly found on the upper midlands of Eastern and Central regions, the Rift Valley Highlands and the elevated plateaus of Nyanza and Western Kenya.

The altitude for growing Kenya coffee ranges from 1200 m to 2200 m above sea level whereas the average annual temperatures range between 19-270c. The optimum mean temperature is 180C during the night and 220C during the day (optimal average annual temperatures are between 220C and 280C).

The soils are mainly reddish brown, old and young volcanic, deep to fairly deep and well drained. The common terrain is gently sloping to sloppy with soil conservation measures in place on the latter. These soils are of low to medium fertility status and need seasonal fertilizer application to sustain economic yields.

Annual average rainfall is between 950 and 2000mm.This is favorable for growing Arabica coffee and is evenly distributed.

Sustainability

In Kenya, farmers have integrated their farming systems with measures that ensure they produce sustainably without jeopardizing their future. Farms have embraced certifications that assure of environmental sustainability such as water and soil resource protection, maintaining soil productivity through planting trees that improve the environment.

Varieties Grown in Kenya

The predominant Arabica cultivars grown in Kenya are the SL 28, SL 34, K7, Ruiru 11, Batian and Blue Mountain. The SL 28, SL 34, K7 and Blue mountain tree bears its first crop 3-4 years after planting while the Ruiru 11 and Batian variety matures within 18-24 months after planting and has a productive life of 40 years. Picking of berries is done twice a year and the main season being September-January while the second crop in between May- July.              

The Quality Attributes of Kenyan Coffee - What makes Kenyan coffee stand out?

The Kenyan cup is both the most balanced and the most complex of coffee origins. Powerful, wine-toned malic or green apple acidity is characteristic, with notes of black-currant and cane sugar. The body or mouth feel is typically medium to full giving a round and smooth feel. The berry or black-currant notes with bright acidity are particularly admired by coffee consumers.

Kenyan coffee is grown in an array of regions, altitudes, and micro-climates which contributes to the range of flavors and diverse qualities. The major coffee-growing regions in Kenya are the high plateaus around Mt. Kenya, the Aberdare Ranges, the Rift Valley, Kisii Highlands, Nyanza, Bungoma, Nakuru and Kericho, Machakos and to a smaller scale in Machakos and Taita hills coastal region. Most of the coffee from Kenya is Arabica variety of the 'Colombia mild' type, and is well known for its intense flavor, full body, and pleasant aroma with notes of cocoa. Kisii region in the western Rift is also known for producing the famous Blue Mountain variety of coffee. A small percentage of Robusta is also grown around the Lake Victoria basin.

The coffee industry of Kenya is noted for its well developed and structured cooperative system of production, processing, milling, marketing, and its open auction system. About 70% of Kenyan coffee is produced by small- scale holders, and almost always clean in the cup. The cooperative system has contributed to the overall quality by bringing together smallholders’ coffees and ensuring they are trained, and their coffees processed centrally, through a dominantly wet process method applied with utmost attention to detail.

The other contributing factors to high quality of Kenyan coffee are the growth in high altitudes of between 1200 up to 2200 metres above sea level; the red, well drained loamy acidic soil where it is grown; and climatically just the right amount of sunlight and rainfall.