Effect of Smallholder Tea Growing on Food Crop Production in Bomet County, Kenya, 1954-1963

Abstract

The research investigated smallholder tea production and its effects in Konoin, Bomet County, Kenya, from 1954 to 2002. Based on the study, this paper examines the effects of smallholder tea production on food crop production in Konoin, Bomet County from 1954 to 1963. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Purposive sampling technique was used to identify the informants with vital information. These included farmers, and those practicing tea related activities sampled from the study area. These included the people who witnessed the introduction of tea growing in Konoin Bomet County. The data collection used the study were interview schedule and observation schedule. Data analysis entailed corroboration of secondary data with primary data. Finally, data was presented qualitatively. The research found that cash crop production negatively impacted on food production. The study has shown that negative effects of cash crops occur when too much land is put under cash crops and little under food crops. Too much time was also allocated to tea and its elaborate activities and on the other hand food production was neglected. This was because plucking of tea was done every day mostly by women making it difficult for farmers to leave tea picking to cultivate food crops. In addition, farmers spent a lot of time at the tea buying centres waiting for transport which did not allow them to engage in any other economic activities. Consequently, most of the food consumed in the district was bought from the market. Any changes in the food market affected the area of study either positively or negatively in terms of prices. The study found that granaries once used for food harvest had been turned into stores for farm tools. This dependence on tea production ultimately undermined food sustainability in Konoin.