Saturday, October 25, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About TimeAfrica Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » News » Kenya tells tea factories to cut ties with Rainforest Alliance due to costs

Kenya tells tea factories to cut ties with Rainforest Alliance due to costs

Government says ethical certification is adding financial strain on smallholders rather than being paid by customers | By Zoe Wood

June 8, 2025
in News
0
540
SHARES
4.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Kenyan government has told its tea factories to stop working with the Rainforest Alliance because it says the costs involved in securing the ethical label don’t add up for farmers.

The non-profit organisation is one of the world’s most recognisable certification schemes with its green frog seal on food packaging a sign consumers “can feel confident that these products support a better world”.

However the world’s third largest tea producer has ordered tea factories to suspend certification work because the cost is adding to the financial strain on struggling smallholders.

A recent Fairtrade Foundation poll found only one in five tea workers and farmers in Kenya are earning enough each month to support their families with essentials.

ReadAlso

Africa Tech Festival 2025 to Spotlight Cybersecurity, Cloud Resilience in Africa’s Digital Growth

Frustrated Gen Z Threatens to Topple African Governments

The Kenyan government has told its tea factories to stop working with the Rainforest Alliance because it says the costs involved in securing the ethical label don’t add up for farmers.

The non-profit organisation is one of the world’s most recognisable certification schemes with its green frog seal on food packaging a sign consumers “can feel confident that these products support a better world”.

ADVERTISEMENT

However the world’s third largest tea producer has ordered tea factories to suspend certification work because the cost is adding to the financial strain on struggling smallholders.

A recent Fairtrade Foundation poll found only one in five tea workers and farmers in Kenya are earning enough each month to support their families with essentials.

A recent poll found only one in five tea workers and farmers in Kenya are earning enough each month to support their families with essentials.
Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Alamy

Tea is a major cash crop for Kenya and the decision comes as the country grapples with the knock-on effect of a moribund tea price on the millions of people who rely on it for their livelihood.

The Rainforest Alliance says it is engaging with the State Department of Agriculture in Kenya to “gain clarity and to work towards a joint resolution quickly”.

It has contacted certificate-holders to assure them that the endorsement remains valid until the expiration date, meaning “farmers are able to sell their tea as certified”.

A spokesperson said: “We remain committed to supporting in Kenya to the fullest extent possible, and our tea brands and companies have communicated that they remain fully committed to continuing to purchase Rainforest Alliance certified tea.”

The Kenyan government is said to be considering putting in place a localised certification model. It would likely have similar sustainability goals but lower compliance costs and less administrative complexity.

A spokesperson for the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), an NGO focused on tackling problems in the tea sector, said it hoped the Kenyan suspension would be “short-lived and that a solution to this current impasse will be found”.

Certification is a “critical tool to allow all stakeholders in the tea supply chain to ensure that the workers, farmers and communities who rely on tea for their livelihoods are being treated fairly”, the ETP added.

Tags: AfricaFair TradeFoodFood & drink industryKenyaTea
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Idris Elba: ‘I want to build the African Odeon’

Next Post

Rwanda withdraws from Central African bloc over alleged manipulation

You MayAlso Like

News

Africa Tech Festival 2025 to Spotlight Cybersecurity, Cloud Resilience in Africa’s Digital Growth

October 25, 2025
News

President Tinubu Changes Service Chiefs

October 24, 2025
News

Anambra Audit Report Uncovers Over N725Million In Unretired Funds, Missing Vehicles, Fraudulent Contracts

October 24, 2025
News

Ogwashi-Uku Community Launches Fiery Protests Against Obi Okonjo, Accuse Him of “Enslaving The People!”

October 24, 2025
News

NITEL, Now Ntel, Set for 2026 Comeback

October 22, 2025
News

ASUU suspends two-week warning strike

October 22, 2025
Next Post

Rwanda withdraws from Central African bloc over alleged manipulation

President Trump on Air Force One on Friday.Credit...Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Trump says his relationship with Elon Musk is over

Discussion about this post

Open Letter to the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs

Ogwashi-Uku Community Launches Fiery Protests Against Obi Okonjo, Accuse Him of “Enslaving The People!”

Coup Rumours Are False — Nigerian Defence Headquarters

Anambra Audit Report Uncovers Over N725Million In Unretired Funds, Missing Vehicles, Fraudulent Contracts

President Tinubu Changes Service Chiefs

PDP Chairmanship Position: Odds Favour Tanimu Turaki

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1242 shares
    Share 497 Tweet 311
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1068 shares
    Share 427 Tweet 267
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    975 shares
    Share 390 Tweet 244
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    905 shares
    Share 362 Tweet 226
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    738 shares
    Share 295 Tweet 185
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

Peter Obi | The Imperative of Diversifying Port Development in Nigeria

October 25, 2025

Africa Tech Festival 2025 to Spotlight Cybersecurity, Cloud Resilience in Africa’s Digital Growth

October 25, 2025

The Task Ahead: Kabiru Turaki and PDP’s Rebuilding Mission

October 25, 2025

President Tinubu Changes Service Chiefs

October 24, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About TimeAfrica Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.