The East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) was privileged to host Members of Parliament from Uganda for a high-level discussion on the future of the tea industry in the region. This visit provided an opportunity to deliberate on critical issues affecting the sector and explore collaborative strategies to improve tea prices and ensure long-term sustainability.

Key Areas of Focus

During the discussions, several key priorities emerged as essential to strengthening the tea industry across East Africa:

1. Increasing Local Tea Consumption
   Promoting tea consumption within local markets remains a crucial step toward boosting demand and stabilizing prices. Initiatives to encourage domestic consumption through awareness campaigns and education were highlighted as pivotal.

2. Improving Tea Quality
   Enhancing the quality of tea to meet international standards is vital for competitiveness in global markets. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of adopting better production practices and quality control measures across the tea value chain.

3. Introducing Subsidies, Such as Power
   Reducing production costs, particularly through subsidies like affordable power, was discussed as a key enabler to increase profitability for farmers and processors. Lower costs mean greater competitiveness and improved earnings for industry players.

4. Market Diversification
   Exploring and penetrating new markets beyond traditional buyers was identified as a significant opportunity. Diversification reduces dependence on specific regions and ensures a wider customer base for East African tea.

5. Product Diversification
   To adapt to changing consumer preferences, stakeholders underscored the need to innovate and diversify tea products. Value-added products, such as specialty teas and ready-to-drink beverages, offer new avenues for growth and profitability.

Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge sharing in addressing the challenges faced by the tea industry. With Uganda and Kenya being key players in the sector, such engagements foster joint efforts to secure a thriving tea economy.

EATTA remains committed to driving initiatives that empower stakeholders, improve market outcomes, and ensure sustainable growth for the tea sector.

Together, we can build a resilient and competitive tea industry for East Africa.