Sorwathe Tea Factory is Rwanda's oldest private tea factory, located 70km north of Kigali. It employs 2500 workers and supports 3500 tea farmers. To adapt to climate change impacts like increased temperatures and changing weather patterns, Sorwathe has undertaken initiatives like introducing trees and organic farming, harvesting rainwater, and using solar power. Sorwathe shares its experiences through its participation in the Rwanda Private Sector Platform on Environment and Climate Change to inspire other companies to incorporate adaptation activities. Information sharing among private sector actors can help disseminate best practices and data related to climate change adaptation.

1. KIGALI, RWANDA
May 2018
Rohith Peiris
Sorwathe Tea Factory Rwanda
Peer Learning Summit: Engaging the Private Sector in
National Adaptation Planning Processes

2. Sorwathe is my Cup of Tea
 Rwanda’s oldest private Tea factory located in 70 km north of Kigali city towards the
Northern Province, in Rulindo District Kinihira Sector.
 Commenced in 1975 – Around 1200 hectares of Tea and 500 hectares of Forest
 Annual production of around 3.5 million kgs. Employs around 2500 workers/day and
3500 Tea farmers depend on the factory.
 Produces both CTC type and Orthodox type Black and Green Tea, Organic Tea, Semi
Fermented Tea and Specialty Tea. It also has various types of Value Added tea packs
and gift packs.

3. Why is it important for Tea company to adapt to
climate change
– Tea plays a significant role is rural development and
poverty reduction.
– It is one of the most important cash crops in the world. It is
planted in over 50 countries on 5 contingents.
– So many are dependent on Tea
– Environmental issues impact greatly on the growth and
production as tea is mainly grown under rain-fed mono
crop systems.
– Increased temperatures cause the soil to dry, resulting in
die back and new pests and diseases.
– Change in weather patterns greatly affects crop levels.

4. Adaptation to Climate change - WHY
We Believe - “That it’s the right thing to do”
To overcome the challenges,
• In 2009, decided to “Go green” with adaptation
initiatives.
• Focused on RainForest Alliance certification and
on Sustainable Agriculture Network principles
• Introduced organic tea cultivation

5. Sorwathé’s efforts to mainstream
adaptation into its operations;
 Introduction of Trees, Shrubs, and planting Tea under shade
 Use of organic manure, promoting of Vermiculture and
compost making.
 Afforestation of catchment areas and protection of river banks
that passes through tea plantation
 Rainwater harvesting in the tea plantation field and at the tea
factory
 Introduced a Solar power project and Inverters, all to reduce
power consumption.
 Forestry Managements and Firewood drying systems
 Awareness programmes of waste, such as plastics.

6. Intervention
Before After

7. Interventions for water retention and soil conservation systems
Before After

8. Other interventions

9. Sorwathe’s participation in the private sector dialogues
hosted by GIZ and the ARCOS Network
Sorwathe is a member of Rwanda Private Sector Platform on Environment and
Climate Change
• Created in 2017 to support companies and SMEs in discussing and integrating
Environment and climate change adaptation practices in their operations. The
network is made up of 70 members including 35 companies, 20 Civil Society
Organization and 15 government entities.
• Sorwathe presented company’s experience during the second Private Sector
dialogue organized in May 2018.
• Explained why environmental initiatives are important for the tea business and the
importance of tea for rural development and poverty reduction

10. Outcome
• Sorwathe’s experience sharing inspired other
participants, especially companies.
• Showed that adaptation is possibly with minimal
resources.
• Participants decided to incorporate adaptation
activities into their business strategies.

11. The importance of information sharing
among private sector actors
We believe
• Apart from government, private sector actors can play a role in
generation, dissemination and understanding of data and information
related to climate change.
It can be done by:
 Taking part in communications outreach on climate change
 Sharing of best practices and reporting within the members of the private
sector
 Sharing climate and related information
 Participate in building up information sharing platforms on climate change

12. Challenges
• Investment in environment and mindset
change
• Erosion from the catchment areas
• Lack of alternatives to firewood for drying of
tea
• E’waste!!

13. THANK
YOU