Factors Influencing Tea Production A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers in Konoin, Bomet County

Abstract

Tea is a very important cash crop to farmers in Kenya due to its contribution to farmer's income and its contents in catechins, caffeine and thiamine. The crop is the main source of vitamin (C, B, E) for human consumption. Other components resulting from Kenya black tea include saponine, frourine, y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), minerals (potassium, calcium, phosphorus and manganese and also its fragrance components all of which have great importance in human nutrition and health. Despite the overall cited importance of tea to smallholder tea farmers there are a number of factors that determine their yield. The aim of this research is to determine factors influencing tea production leading to low output. Tea productions have continued to reduce over years and optimum levels have not yet been achieved. The study was conducted at Konoin, Bomet County. The results revalued that opportunities still exist in tea production if inputs availability, labor availability, credit availability and extension services availability are properly addressed. Other important variables that have contributed to low output include delivery services, cultural practices and infrastructure. The data for study is generated both from primary and secondary sources. Smallholder farmers have high contribution to meet demand for tea and contribute income in the study area .In order to achieve this government should provide farmers with adequate subsidies of agricultural inputs and increase provision of extension services to the farmers. Generally agronomic services must be dealt with in order to address low tea productivity by smallholder farmers in Konoin, Bomet County.