Rwanda sees '09 tea earnings up 29 pct to $54 mln

Rwanda expects its 2009 earnings from tea to rise 29 percent to $54 million compared with the previous year, due to higher yields per hectare, branded packaging and new varieties, the central African country's industry regulator said on Friday.Rwanda earned $42 million from tea in 2008, compared with $34 million the previous year, despite poor weather conditions and the global economic downturn, Rwanda Tea Authority said.