Webinar: Can a national agency truly strengthen tea smallholders’ power?
Upcoming event
A young Kenyan woman taking pride in her small tea farm. Photo: THIRST 2023
Event description
Smallholder farmers produce most of the world’s tea, yet many still struggle with low prices, limited bargaining power and unpredictable markets. One approach that’s been held up as a possible solution is the national aggregation model which brings thousands of smallholder farmers under one shared structure so they can negotiate, grow and trade from a position of strength.
In this webinar, we’ll take a detailed look at one of the most well-known examples: the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA).
The webinar will be led by Sudi Matara, General Manager and Executive Trustee of the KTDA Foundation, who has first-hand insight into how the system works on the ground, what it gets right and where the challenges lie.
Date and time
Ticket price
Free
Donations welcome
Why is this subject important?
The volume of tea on the global market grown by smallholders is rapidly outrunning plantation-grown tea. Smallholders are at risk of missing out on economies of scale, joined up voices, coverage by national legislation and labour regulations. KTDA demonstrates how smallholder independence can flourish within an aggregated structure.
What will this webinar cover?
How national aggregation can increase smallholder farmers’ bargaining power
- What KTDA’s structure looks like in practice and why it matters
- The role of the KTDA Foundation in climate resilience, gender equity and financial literacy
- Real benefits for farmers: economies of scale, technical support, access to higher-value markets
- Weaknesses and risks: political interference, worker conditions, governance gaps
- Lessons for other countries where smallholder numbers are rapidly rising
How will attending this event benefit me / my organisation?
Attending gives you:
- A chance to ask questions and explore the model’s strengths and limitations with sector experts
- A chance to hear directly from Sudi Matara, who brings years of experience inside the KTDA system
- A clear understanding of how aggregation models work and not just in theory
- Insights you can apply to policy, sourcing decisions or programme design
About the speakers
As General Manager and Executive Trustee, Sudi Matara provides leadership in the development and implementation of KTDA Group and Foundation Sustainable Business, Social Investments, Social Impact and Climate Change Strategies, Sustainability Policy and Reporting. This position works closely with KTDA Foundation Board of Trustees, KTDA Holdings Board on Climate Change, Boards & Management of nine KTDA Subsidiaries and the network of 54 Tea Factory Companies.
This webinar tackles the following root causes of human rights breaches in the tea industry
Competition over collaboration
Power dynamics
Colonial roots
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