Rwanda tea exports surge in 2015

The National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB) latest statistics indicate that the Central African country’s tea export volumes and revenue grew significantly in the first 11 months of last year.

Data released on Saturday showed that output rose to 22.7 million kg in 2015 compared with 20.7 million kg a year earlier, which raked in about 66.3 million U.S. dollars, up from 47.3 million dollars recorded during the same period in 2014.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Issa Nkurunziza, the head of tea division at NAEB, said the agency intensified efforts to improve the quality of green leaf.

“We have ensured that individual farmers and cooperatives get the best training in tea farming skills and post storage handling techniques which boosted tea production,” he said.

Nkurunziza attributed the increase in value to good prices at the Mombasa auction over the reporting period, which averaged 2.92 U.S. dollars per kilo, a slight increase from the average price of 2.29 U.S. dollars in 2014. Rwanda sells teas at the Mombasa auction.

National Agricultural Export Development Board has intensified campaign to boost coffee and tea since these cash crops fetch high demand in the international market.

Rwanda is diversifying its two main cash crops – tea and coffee – in a bid to increase exports and achieve its export promotion strategy. Enditem

Source: Xinhua