More than 260,000 smallholder tea farmers are set to access KSh 1.2 billion in credit under a new partnership between KTDA and Co-operative Bank of Kenya.
The funding will be delivered via mobile channels in collaboration with KTDA’s lending arm, Greenland Fedha.
The announcement was made at the launch of the KTDA Magazine and Farmer First Mantra Prospectus in Nairobi, where Co-op Bank participated as a platinum sponsor.
Loan amounts will range from Ksh.100 to Ksh.20,000 and will be processed through a mobile platform, allowing farmers to access short-term capital without visiting physical branches.
The structure is intended to reduce turnaround times and expand financing options for farm inputs and seasonal investments.
Vincent Kihara, Head of Corporate Banking at Co-op Bank, said the initiative forms part of the bank’s broader engagement in the agriculture sector.
The bank currently works with all nine KTDA subsidiaries, providing corporate banking solutions across the value chain.
KTDA manages over half of Kenya’s tea production through its network of factories and affiliated growers, making it a major contributor to foreign exchange earnings.
The agency has continued to invest in mechanization, processing, and farmer education, with financial partnerships playing a central role in these efforts.
Co-op Bank’s lending model also leverages MCo-op Cash, a mobile platform through which it has disbursed billions in micro and SME loans.
The bank maintains a widespread footprint across rural Kenya through its agency network and branch infrastructure.
The KTDA agreement adds to the bank’s ongoing activity in structured agricultural finance, a segment drawing increased attention from lenders seeking exposure to productive rural economies.
