Kenya aims for record tea earnings
According to the Tea Board of Kenya, tea earnings could reach $684 million in 2008, despite lower production and continuing tea uprooting. The world's leading exporter of black tea expects output to drop to 335 million kg this year, compared with 369 million produced last year, yet hopes higher prices and strong dollar will offset the fall in production. Also, the country is currently dealing with tea uprooting, where farmers are replacing tea bushes with other horticultural crops such as French beans and celery, which yield higher returns.