- Kisii tea farmers could soon earn more as government moves to crack down on tea hawking.
- Farmers set to get fertiliser at Ksh2,500 as government targets lower production costs.
- Nyamache Tea Factory seeks Ksh250 million upgrade as thousands of new tea seedlings are lined up.
The government has announced measures aimed at improving returns for tea farmers in Kisii County, including tighter controls on tea hawking, cheaper fertiliser and replacement of ageing tea bushes.
Agriculture PS Dr Kipronoh Rono said the measures are intended to strengthen the tea value chain and improve farmers’ incomes from the crop.
Speaking during a meeting with Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke and the Nyamache Tea Factory board, Dr Rono directed the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) to ensure tea hawking is stopped in the Kisii region.
The meeting focused on challenges affecting tea farmers and ways of improving the performance of the sector.
Dr Rono said a presidential directive allowing tea factories to sell their produce directly to buyers could give farmers better access to markets and reduce dependence on traditional marketing channels.
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The government is also seeking to lower the cost of farm inputs. Dr Rono said tea farmers would pay Ksh2,500 for a bag of fertiliser, similar to the price charged to other farmers.
“The fertiliser that tea farmers use will also be Ksh2,500, just like the fertiliser for other farmers,” said Rono.
The lower cost is expected to ease production expenses and allow farmers to invest more in maintaining their tea farms.
Mr Isaboke said tea had played an important role in the lives of many families in Kisii and urged leaders to address the challenges facing growers.
“Many of us from Kisii grew up on proceeds from the sale of tea and so as leaders from the region, who truly understand what these tea farms mean to our people, we must find solutions for our farmers,” said Isaboke.
The proposed interventions include greater investment in value addition, digitalisation, innovation and direct marketing, alongside efforts to reduce the cost of production.
Plans are also underway to replace old tea bushes in phases, a move expected to improve the quality of tea and support farmers’ earnings.
Smallholder farmers in the region are expected to receive 100,000 tea seedlings. In addition, 14 tea factories in Kisii and Nyamira counties will each receive 100,000 seedlings.
The Nyamache Tea Factory board has also asked the government to support the renovation of the facility and installation of a new orthodox tea processing line.
The proposed project is estimated to cost Ksh250 million.
The measures come as the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) moves to procure two million bags of fertiliser for tea farmers across the country.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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