KTDA is reaffirming its commitment to empowering tea farmers and securing the sustainability of Kenya’s most valuable agricultural export.

The Kenya Tea Development Agency Holdings (KTDA(H) Limited) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to turn its ‘Farmers First’ philosophy into practical, results-driven systems aimed at improving farmers’ livelihoods and maximising returns from their tea production.

According to KTDA Group Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Muthaura, the organisation is executing a far-reaching transformation agenda built on sustainability, innovation, and farmer-focused governance. He emphasised that the core objective is to create more value for tea farmers while establishing KTDA as a world-class, future-ready enterprise.

Muthaura revealed that the agency has initiated a significant internal restructuring process to align operations with its transformation goals. As part of this effort, the KTDA board has set up ten cross-functional management committees tasked with enhancing efficiency, cutting costs, and promoting value addition across the value chain.

“The GCEO said the committees would also identify business opportunities along the entire value chain from farm to factory and all the way to the market.”

He further explained that these committees are actively contributing to KTDA’s newly developed Group Strategic Plan, designed to “future-proof” operations and ensure the agency remains resilient in a changing global tea market.

Muthaura noted that this transformation is not a top-down initiative but a collective effort inspired by a historic meeting—the first since the Tea Act reforms of 2020—convened by the KTDA chairman.

"All the 71 factory unit managers and KTDA's senior leadership came together to co-develop a roadmap that ensures every decision made benefited the farmer," he said.

At the heart of KTDA’s mission is ensuring farmers receive not only fair prices but also better quality services. "The services range from enhancing fertiliser distribution and leaf collection logistics to upgrading factory efficiency and introducing traceability tools," he said.

To achieve these goals, KTDA has begun implementing the Systems, Applications and Products (SAP) enterprise platform, which is already optimising operations and enabling smarter, data-driven decisions. The agency has also strengthened its digital infrastructure to build more agile processes and eliminate inefficiencies. "The agency is doubling down on communication and farmer engagement to ensure that growers are not just recipients of services, but co-owners of the solutions because they are shareholders, stakeholders, and strategic partners," he said.

Through these forward-looking initiatives, KTDA is reaffirming its commitment to empowering tea farmers and securing the sustainability of Kenya’s most valuable agricultural export.

Nestlé empowers Nigerian farmers.

As Nigeria faces rising food insecurity, degrading soils, and the growing threat of climate change, a fresh wave of sustainable agriculture is offering new hope for farmers.

Nestlé Nigeria, through its MAGGI brand, is leading this transformation with its Regenerative Agriculture (RegenAg) initiative—an ambitious project designed to boost crop yields, restore soil fertility, and build resilience among local farmers.

Launched in 2023, the RegenAg program brings together public and private partners including TechnoServe, IDH, and Ghana’s Centre for No-Till Agriculture. The pilot phase supported over 1,000 smallholder soybean farmers, providing them with training, improved seeds, and access to sustainable farming tools. Backed by an investment of more than ₦100 million, the initiative introduced eco-friendly techniques such as cover cropping, minimal tillage, crop rotation, and hedgerow planting—all proven methods to preserve soil nutrients, prevent erosion, and enhance long-term productivity.

According to Funmi Osineye, Category Manager for Culinary at Nestlé Nigeria, the initiative goes beyond sourcing ingredients for MAGGI. “Soybean is central to our product, but this project is really about creating a resilient food system. By training farmers especially women and youth—we’re ensuring better harvests today and healthier soils for the future,” she explained.

During a ceremony celebrating the pilot’s success, over 150 stakeholders from agriculture, business, and development sectors gathered to recognize farmers who excelled in adopting regenerative practices. One participant, Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared how his yields doubled after embracing the new methods. “Since I started applying the techniques from this project, my harvests have increased by 100%. It’s been life-changing,” he said.

Following these promising results, the program has expanded into a multi-partner initiative supported by AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and Nestlé. The next phase targets 25,000 farmers nationwide, aiming to produce 80,000 metric tonnes of soybeans and other grains annually through regenerative farming.

Alidu Amadu, Head of Agriculture Services for Nestlé Central and West Africa, emphasized that the project shows the power of collaboration. “When farmers, businesses, and partners work together, we can restore the land, strengthen food systems, and create lasting prosperity,” he noted.

This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s national drive for food security and Nestlé’s global goal to source 20% of key ingredients through regenerative methods by 2025 and 50% by 2030. Experts believe such programs could transform Nigeria’s agriculture, helping smallholders adapt to climate change while ensuring a sustainable food future.

Thousands of smallholder tea farmers across Kenya are set to benefit from the government’s latest move to deliver nearly 100,000 metric tonnes of subsidised fertiliser, a partnership effort between the Government of Kenya and the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).

A vessel carrying the first batch of 30,000 metric tonnes docked at the Port of Mombasa over the weekend, marking the start of nationwide distribution. The fertiliser, identified as NPK 26:5:5, is a balanced formulation designed to boost soil fertility, improve tea bush health, and ultimately increase yields for farmers.

According to KTDA Chairman Geoffrey Kirundi, the fertiliser will be distributed to all tea farmers managed under KTDA across Kenya’s major tea-growing regions. “This consignment marks the beginning of a series of deliveries that will ensure our farmers receive fertiliser in good time,” he said.

Kirundi confirmed that additional shipments are already on their way, with 33,000 metric tonnes having left China and another 36,000 metric tonnes expected to depart within the next week. He added that KTDA is collaborating with port and logistics authorities to ensure swift movement of the fertiliser to various factories and farmers, despite minor logistical challenges caused by the ongoing short rains.

KTDA Board Member Gathuka Kagombe, who also attended the offloading ceremony, noted that the delay in the fertiliser’s arrival was due to prolonged legal cases over the tendering process. “The legal dispute dragged on for about ten months, eating into valuable logistical time that could have ensured earlier delivery to our farmers,” he explained.

Kagombe revealed that this was the third time in four years that court disputes had delayed fertiliser procurement. He said KTDA is working on long-term solutions to prevent such disruptions in future, as they have proven costly and inconvenient for farmers.

“Farmers will access the fertiliser at a subsidised price of Sh2,500 per 50-kg bag, following the Government's continued support to lower input costs and boost tea production,” Kagombe added.

KTDA Group Chief Executive Officer Wilson Muthaura reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers through affordable input distribution. “By ensuring access to quality inputs, we are empowering farmers to produce the finest tea while safeguarding their livelihoods,” he said.

Muthaura noted that the arrival of the fertiliser reinforces KTDA’s promise to improve productivity, reduce production costs, and strengthen Kenya’s global position as one of the world’s leading tea producers.

For tea farmers, the timely access to affordable fertiliser comes as a welcome relief — one that is expected to rejuvenate plantations, enhance yields, and improve household incomes across the country’s key tea-growing regions.

The initiative demonstrates AGRA’s commitment to policy reforms that promote youth employment in agriculture.

The Government of Malawi has unveiled a major initiative designed to create jobs for young people and accelerate agricultural transformation

Through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the country has launched the Strengthening Policy Implementation and Institutional Capacity for Youth Employment Creation and Agri-Food Systems Transformation (SPICE) project, a K720mn programme funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The project was officially launched at Chikho Hotel in Mponela, Dowa, and aims to link youth employment with Malawi’s agriculture-led development agenda. With a US$400,000mn from AGRA, the Ministry will collaborate with other government departments to reform agricultural policies, strengthen institutions, and create more opportunities for youth within the agri-food value chain.

Dina Gumulira, Director of Technical Services in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said, “This project is meant to strengthen the policy environment for youth empowerment and respond to issues affecting our agri-food systems,” she said. “Malawi's population is predominantly young, yet many lack opportunities. SPICE seeks to bridge that gap by promoting inclusivity and employment through agriculture.”

Gumulira emphasised that agriculture remains Malawi’s economic backbone, with huge potential for youth participation in key value chains such as soybeans, groundnuts, and maize, which are vital for food security and income generation.

“By involving youth in these value chains, we are empowering them economically and contributing to national development,” she added. “The project aligns with Malawi 2063 and the National Youth Policy, promoting youth participation, market access, and value addition.”

The launch brought together government representatives, youth leaders, civil society, and development partners to map out an implementation strategy. Among the expected outcomes are the creation of evidence-based policies, the development of a National Youth Service Strategy and Act, and the establishment of a coordination framework to link ministries involved in agricultural industrialisation and commercialisation.

Eluphy Nyirenda, AGRA Malawi Country Director, said ,“This grant supports the Ministry of Youth and other collaborating ministries to implement reforms that will create jobs for young Malawians,” she said. “It falls under a Mastercard-funded programme that identified policy gaps affecting youth engagement.”

Nyirenda highlighted that unclear legal definitions and overlapping frameworks have slowed youth development. “For example, there's no law that clearly defines who a 'young person' is in Malawi,” she explained. “This lack of clarity across legal frameworks hampers effective youth programming. SPICE will align all youth-related policies and laws to the Malawi 2063 vision.”

The project will also form a Reference Group to provide technical oversight and ensure effective coordination.

As youth unemployment continues to rise, SPICE is viewed as a timely effort to transform Malawi’s agricultural sector into a source of innovation and opportunity. “This is more than just a project,” Gumulira stressed. “It is a renewed commitment  by government and AGRA  to ensure that no young Malawian is left behind in the country's journey toward inclusive and sustainable growth.”