Tea hawking in Nyamira, Kisii counties worries KTDA

The Kenya Tea Development Agency has decried increasing cases of tea hawking in Nyamira and Kisii counties.

According to KTDA board members, brokers from multinational and other private tea firms were exploiting farmers from the regions.

Tea board members Thaddeus Mangenya (Nyamira), Ombasa Omweno (Kisii) and Abu Khasiani (Kakamega) said urgent measures should be put in place to save growers from exploitation.

The trio spoke at Nyakoba Tea Factory on Thursday afternoon during a graduation ceremony of 500 farmers who underwent a holistic economic and social empowerment training program.

“Unlike the private factories, KTDA gives farmers fertilizers, they pay road cess, pay farmers bonus and also train farmers. The multinationals are reaping where they did not sow,” said Khasiani who was the chief guest.

Omweno said government agencies should ensure private tea farms have farmers contracted to them before licensing.

However, the board members said the agency is working on improving payments for growers in order to address the hawking business.

“One of the measures we have put in place is prompt payment. We are working on increasing the money we pay farmers per kilogram. The reforms which were initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Agriculture CS Peter Munya are being implemented,” said Mangenya.

“The holistic economic empowerment program also aims at cushioning farmers so that they don’t depend on tea as the only source of income.”

He challenged farmers to produce quality crops that can fetch higher payments.

“Last year, farmers received fertilizer after about two years. The quality of the leaf we are getting has improved. I ask farmers to take care of their tea bushes,” added Mangenya, a former tea factory manager.