Rwanda’s tea production increased marginally last year, yet the nation’s annual export earnings dropped, as indicated by the National Agricultural Export Board monthly report for December 2016.
The report shows that tea yield climbed insignificantly by 1.82 for every penny to more than 108.3 million kilograms in 2016, up from 106.4 million kilos recorded in 2015.
However, the sector’s export receipts declined to $63.42 million over the period, down from $72.86 million earned in 2015, indicating a $9.44 million or 12.96 drop compared to revenue recorded in 2015.
Rwanda recorded an estimated 6,977mm of rain in 2016 compared 8,306mm in 2015, according to figures from the department of metrology.
The export body attributed this decline to mainly the prolonged drought registered during the period, noting that it affected many tea plantations.
