A value chain approach to stakeholders analysis and management of Tea trade in Kenya

Abstract

The broad objective of the study was to establish the value contribution by stakeholders in the tea trade using the value chain approach. The study further sought to establish the factors that influence the stakeholder's management ill the tea trade. The-researcher used questionnaires in collecting the data and the analysis was done using descriptive statistics in the form of tables, frequency and percentages. The relationships between the variables were determined using mean ranking. The target population was 107 Stakeholders comprising 11 tea brokers, 16 warehouse operators, 13 tea packers and 67 tea Buyers. The researchers used questionnaire in collection of primary data.

The findings of the study showed Warehouse operators were the most important stakeholders within the supply chain with Tea Brokers being the least important. It wasthe contention of most of the respondents that there will be minimal role for the Tea Brokers in the near future due to the advent of technology which would more cheaply provide most of the services offered by brokers. It was further found that foreign exchange rate and world tea demand were considered as the factors that greatly influence the contribution and management of the stakeholders in the Tea Trade.