Kisumu, Kenya, May 10 - Kenya plans to introduce four new tea hybrids to boost quality and cut losses from drought, researchers at a leading state-run body said on Wednesday.
The Kenya Tea Research Foundation said the hybrids, due to be released to market soon, have characteristics that would make them endure adverse weather conditions like recent drought, which has slashed output.
"The breeding programme for the four new clones is complete and we shall have them in the market very soon," Samson Kamunya, the research foundation's chief plant breeder, said.
Scientists call hybrid tea varieties grown through vegetative propagation clones, a reference to the fact that cuttings from old tea bushes are grafted onto new plants with desirable genetic traits.
"For instance, one crop would have more resistance to drought while another would be better yielding," Kamunya said. "So when you ... propagate the two you find a better crop bearing both qualities."
The result is a hardier plant, he said.
"The production of the clones involved monitoring seedling tea for up to seven years before selecting the best bushes," Kamunya said.
He declined to disclose the names of the new varieties, because they were not yet patented or registered as trademarks.
Kenya is the world's biggest exporter of black tea but has suffered in the last few months due to a severe drought.
Kenya's tea industry has further suffered in last few months due to a strong local currency and oversupply in the international market.
But heavy rains in major growing areas have pushed production 70 percent higher in March to 19.8 million kg from 11.6 million kg in February.
Kenyan tea thrives in altitudes of between 1,500 metres and 2,700 metres in volcanic soils and requires rainfall amounts of between 1,200 mm and 2,700 mm annually.
To increase production, the foundation said it plans to develop a national map to show growers which hybrid is best suited to their production area.
The new hybrids also have high tolerance to a wide range of pests, which could increase their appeal to ecologically sensitive consumers who are wary of pesticide residue.
"With Kenyan tea mainly for export to markets such as the European Union, these new clones would be ideal because they would lock out any chemical control of pests that has often raised concerns in such markets," Kamunya said.