Kenya's tea production grew by 70 percent in March compared to the previous month after rains fell in growing areas, the Tea Board of Kenya said on Tuesday, adding it saw output rising further in the current quarter.
Harvested volumes rose to 19.8 million kg in March from 11.6 million kg in February. However, the board said overall output for the current year would still below that of 2005 due to lower volumes harvested in the first quarter of 2006.
"Improved output was attributed to favourable weather conditions in tea growing regions particularly west of Rift (Valley) where production doubled owing to the recovery of withered tea bushes," a statement by the board said.
Kenya, the leading exporter of black tea, is currently emerging from its worst drought in years that killed scores of people and hit export crops. The worst hit tea-growing farms were in the west of the Rift Valley where big estates operate.
"In view of the ongoing rains, production for the April/June period is expected to surpass the output for the same period last year," the board said. "However, the production increase is not likely to offset the shortfall experienced during the first quarter, giving an indication that this year's output may drop 10-16 percent compared to last year's."