The Socio -Economic Factors Influencing Productivity Of The Smallholder Subsector of the Kenyan Tea Industry :

Abstract

For a period spanning over 5000 years of cultivation, tea plant has occupied a very important place among cash crops of the World. In Kenya, the smallholder tea sub-sector is viewed not only as the largest but also the most thriving smallholder schemes internationally. However, the sector continues to show sub-optimal decline of crop yield when compared to that of the estates. This study aims at understanding the Socio-economic factors influencing productivity of the smallholder sub-sector of the Kenyan tea Industry, with special reference to Othaya, in Nyeri County. Specific objectives are: To find out the influence of availability of labour on the productivity of the smallholder sub-sector of the Kenyan Tea Industry, to examine how cultural practices affect the productivity of the smallholder sub-sector of the Kenyan Tea Industry and, to assess the effect(s) of tea market prices on the productivity of the smallholder sub-sector of the Kenyan Tea Industry. This study was descriptive in nature and focused mainly on smallholder producers of tea in Othaya Sub-County, particularly farm households. In total, 240 households were selected in the study. The study established that most households use both hired and familybased sources of labour particularly during harvesting season which required much more labour compared to other activities. The study also demonstrates that cultural issues do not l impacts negatively on the tea productivity. In relation to the different roles/activities associated with tea production, the study found that females had more roles in tea production than their male counterparts who mostly undertook seasonal roles like tea planting and pruning. In addition, the study reveals that market price affects tea production in the area. The study recommends that Tea owners/farmers and managers should provide proper working environment to the human resources so as to obtain and maintain appropriate skilled labour force that will work competently in their relevant fields including efficient use of the physical resources such as modern machineries and equipment. The study also calls for deliberate efforts to sensitize all the relevant stakeholders on the need to equitably share the benefits from tea production. Lastly, the study highlights the need for the government and stakeholders of the tea industry to pay attention to the market factors such as market price to ensure they are favourable to the tea owners/farmers