Socioeconomic Constraints to Tea Productivity: A Case of Small-Scale Tea Farmers in Burundi

peer reviewedThe article identifies and discusses the socio-economic factors that constrain the productivity of the tea bush of the small-scale tea farmers who supply most of the green leaves to the state-owned factories in Burundi. Despite technical support and fertilizer subsidies from Burundi Tea Board (OTB), the productivity of small-scale tea farmers is still lower than the productivity of stateowned plantations. To investigate the cause of this low productivity, a survey was carried out on a sample of 120 small-scale tea farmers in two communes (Mugongomanga and Bukeye) located in two tea-producing areas (Ijenda and Teza) in Burundi. The results show that the low level of education has a considerable negative impact on the maintenance of plantations in good condition. In addition, the problems of availability of family labour and the high cost of hired labour, the variety and age of the tea bushes and the customs of the country are hindrances to the productivity of smallholder tea growers. In order to maintain the tea as a strategic sector for the country, there should be close and sustained supervision of smallholders and investment in research and developmen