Tea Factory
maximize the Corporation’s returns from green leaf
our forest conservation practices
buffer activities.
Transforming Livelihoods to Inspire Sustainable Forest Conservation
About Us
Gatitu Tea Factory is the 2nd factory owned and operated by Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation. The factory is situated in Kirinyaga County and commenced tea processing in March 2022. Gatitu factory was mooted to expand the Corporation’s factory operations and process its tea from the buffer zones in the East of Rift.
The main objective of the factory is to maximize the Corporation’s returns from green leaf while avoiding post-harvest losses. In addition, the factory contributes to employment creation and development of infrastructure such as roads and electricity in the catchment area.
Gatitu Tea Factory is designed as a three-line factory. It currently operates as a one-line with an annual capacity of 7 million kgs of green leaf tea sourced from the catchment zones of Kirinyaga, Embu, Mathira and Meru South.
The second and third lines will be installed in the future to process tea from at least 3,000 out-growers in the catchment zones to optimize factory capacity.
Gatitu Tea Factory will dedicate 60% of its processing to value addition by producing specialty and orthodox teas which fetch premium prices in local and international markets as per industry projections.
NTZDC Gatitu Tea Factory has created over 100 direct employment opportunities to the youth in its locality and sustained livelihoods of over 5,000 workers engaged in the catchment zones. The factory has also created business opportunities for supply of various goods and services.
1st line Processing
The 1st line with an annual capacity of about 7 million Kgs of green leaf processes the Corporation’s tea from the catchment zones of Kirinyaga, Embu, Mathira and Meru South which have a combined hectarage of 675 ha.
2nd & 3rd Line Processing
The second and third line will process tea from over 3,000 out growers in the catchment zones. The Factory will dedicate 60% of its processing to value addition.
The main objective of Gatitu Factory is to maximize the Corporation’s returns from green leaf while avoiding post-harvest losses which occur during flush periods. In addition, the factory contributes to development of infrastructure such as roads and electricity. It also has major impact on tea production in the area as farmers boost production because of easy access to the factory.
1st line Processing
The 1st line with an annual capacity of about 7 million Kgs of green leaf processes the Corporation’s tea from the catchment zones of Kirinyaga, Embu, Mathira and Meru South which have a combined hectarage of 675 ha.
2nd & 3rd Line Processing
The second and third line will process tea from over 3,000 out growers in the catchment zones. The Factory will dedicate 60% of its processing to value addition.
CONSERVATION
Forest Conservation was the main purpose for the creation and establishment of NTZDC
in 1986.
LIVELIHOOD TRANSFORMATION
Community Engagement
NTZDC in its efforts has established tea buffers to provide livelihood to the people who were otherwise dependent on the forest.
Vision 2030
The Corporation’s mandate and operations contribute
greatly towards the achievement of the Country’s
economic blueprint, the Kenya Vision 2030.
1. Environmental Conservation
Our blueprint’s vision for environment is “a nation living in a clean, secure and sustainable environment
2. Manufacturing
The Corporation processed 25,804,699 Kilograms of green leaf tea at its Kipchabo Tea Factory between January 1st to 31st Dec, 2020 compared to 20,069,176 Kgs processed in 2019.
3. Value addition
Value addition of agricultural products has been identified to play a vital role in the economic development of the country.
The factory generates income from selling high quality tea. We get good prices in the tea auction every week, and the buyers are happy. The revenues generated from factory operations are ploughed back into forest conservation efforts that include expanding our buffer zones and supporting the livelihoods of forest-adjacent communities as per NTZDC conservation objectives.
purchase our products,
Conserve the Environment
Every purchase you make, allows us to protect and conserve our gazetted forests and major water towers