In a move aimed at increasing smallholder farmer earnings and conserving the environment, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has entered into a partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to explore cleaner and more affordable energy solutions in tea processing.
The collaboration focuses on researching and implementing gasification technology, an innovative method that uses biomass, such as tea prunings and farm waste, to power tea factory boilers. This approach is expected to reduce production costs by at least 10% across KTDA’s affiliated factories and lessen dependence on firewood, which has contributed to deforestation.
During a consultative visit to Kiru Tea Factory in Mathioya Constituency, a delegation from UNIDO, led by Darti Shah and Karen Taylor, met with KTDA board members to evaluate the potential of adopting gasification as a sustainable energy alternative.
KTDA Holdings Chairman Chege Kirundi hailed the partnership as a significant step forward in modernizing Kenya’s tea sector. “Processing tea using firewood is no longer economically or environmentally viable. The gasification of tea waste is the future, and it aligns perfectly with our goal to lower costs while preserving our forests,” Kirundi said.
He noted that traditional use of furnace oil was phased out in favor of firewood, but the environmental toll has become unsustainable. “With UNIDO’s support, we now see a way to use tea farm by-products to power our factories efficiently and sustainably,” he added.
The visiting UNIDO experts, representing countries including Indonesia, Canada, Nigeria, Britain, and Brazil, are part of a global initiative under the “Accelerating Climate Innovation Technology” program. They emphasized the importance of educating local communities and industry players about clean energy solutions.
“Tea waste can be transformed into a powerful energy source through gasification, reducing production costs and improving profitability for smallholder farmers,” said Darti Shah. “This is not just an environmental solution, but an economic one as well.”
The team encouraged the tea sector to embrace climate-smart innovations, highlighting that clean energy not only lowers operational costs but also helps mitigate the effects of climate change, a growing concern for agriculture-dependent communities.
As the partnership unfolds, KTDA and UNIDO aim to roll out pilot projects and training programs across tea-growing regions, marking a significant shift toward a more sustainable and cost-efficient future for Kenya’s tea industry.
Written By Rodney Mbua
