Kenyan tea farmers are grappling with severe challenges caused by climate change, which is affecting their crop yields, product quality, and household incomes. Kenya supplies about half of the black tea consumed in Britain, but farmers are dealing with increasingly erratic weather, lower harvests, and rising costs. These factors have increased global tea prices, which are felt by consumers in the UK, but the farmers at the bottom of the supply chain are not seeing the benefits of these higher prices. In the western Kenyan regions of Kericho and Bomet, tea growers are struggling to make ends meet. Unpredictable weather patterns, such as heavy rain in January, unseasonal heat in July, and prolonged droughts, have made farming more difficult. Farmers are also facing rising expenses to maintain their crops, while intermediaries, brokers, and large corporations continue to capture the majority of profits. Many local workers say they cannot afford basic living expenses, let alone invest in measures to protect their farms from future climate impacts. Nelson Ngeno, manager of Fintea, a union of tea farming cooperatives in Kericho, said farmers are "really scared" as their livelihoods are being threatened by the changing climate. Production in Fintea’s five cooperatives dropped by 30% in May and June compared to previous years. In January, an unexpected hailstorm damaged thousands of tea plants in Kabartegan, with Fintea estimating daily losses of 20,000 to 30,000 kg of tea over four months as the plants recovered. Lilian Mutai Levin Langot, a farmer from Kesebet, lost significant income when the storm destroyed her farm. She typically earns around 120,000 Kenyan Shillings (£692) annually, but this is expected to drop to no more than 90,000 Kes (£520) by 2026. She has taken out a loan to survive the year but still struggles to cover healthcare, school fees, and the care of her granddaughter. After buying a cow and calf to diversify her income, she couldn't afford enough feed, leading to the animals’ deaths. In nearby Chepchabas, Paul Kipsigei Koech, 50, earns only 3,000 to 4,000 Kes (£17 to £23) a month from his tea farm, barely enough to provide one meal a day for his family. He is 80,000 Kes (£462) in debt and hopes to use any extra income for his children’s education and family support. Gladys Maiywa, 50, also from Chepchabas, earns about 3,000 Kes (£17) a month to support her eight children. She has taken on 19,000 Kes (£109) in debt for school fees and has a bank overdraft of 3,000 Kes (£170), hoping to use any additional income for her children’s education and to build a new home. Philip Kitur, a 66-year-old farmer near Kericho Town, has produced 50% less tea than usual due to climate change and unfair trade practices. His income barely covers production costs, and he must find other ways to support his household. He expects lower profits this year due to a dry period and described the situation as “very painful.” Amid these challenges, Fintea has seen a significant drop in the amount of tea it sells on Fairtrade terms, from around 5% five years ago to less than 1% today. This decline means the cooperatives receive less money for climate resilience and social projects. However, supermarket Lidl has announced it will source more tea from Fintea on Fairtrade terms and pay extra to boost farmers' incomes for a new tea called “Way To Go!”, set to launch soon. This could increase Fintea’s Fairtrade sales to around 2.6% in the future. Fairtrade is encouraging more businesses to support its cause as it begins its annual “Fairtrade Fortnight” campaign.