Bujumbura, Burundi - Tea production in Burundi rose from 8,025 tonnes in 2010 to 8,816 tonnes in 2011, an increase of about 10%, according to a statement from the Tea Board of Burundi (OTB). OTB said current level of production had never been equalled in the history of tea cultivation in Burundi.

Based on the increase, the Board of Directors of the OTB has declared bumper dividends for  the tea growers by donating a premium per kilogramme of green leaf on production sold to the plant between 1 July and 31 December, 2011, the statement said.

On the international market, the average price for Burundian exported tea increased from US$ 2.49 per kg in 2010 to US$ 2.80 in 2011, which enabled the country to increase tea-based hard currency earnings from US$ 18.2 million in 2010 to US$ 22.2 million in 2011, an increase of about 22%.

The total turnover of the OTB also grew, rising from 23.5 billion Burundian francs (about US$ 23.5 million) at the end of 2010 to 29.1 billion Burundian francs (approximately US$ 29.1 million) as at late 2011, an increase of about 13%.

It said that the quality of the product improved significantly, resulting in the sudden increase in the number of buyers in the international market.

It said, for instance, that at the port of Mombasa (Kenya) where tea from 11 African countries is auctioned, Burundi's tea moved from third place in 2010 to second place in 2011.

The Board attributes the good results to both the financial incentive for farmers in rural areas and good rainfall in 2011.

Coffee is the top export crop that generates the most hard currency in Burundi, well ahead of tea and cotton.

Pana 01/02/2012