- Nandi tea farmers give factories seven days to address their concerns
- Growers question the wide gap between bonus payouts across factories
- A possible leaf boycott could disrupt operations at two tea factories
Tea factories in Nandi County have seven days to win back their farmers, or risk running short of green leaf.
Growers supplying the Chebut and Kaptumo factories have rejected this year’s bonus payment, saying the announced rate of Ksh12.50 per kilo does not reflect their effort.
Farmers point to better performing factories, where some growers are set to take home as much as Ksh50 per kilo. Against that figure, they say, the payout in Nandi feels unfair. They are now calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tea Board to step in and review how the bonus was arrived at.
The dispute comes as global tea prices continue to fall, squeezing incomes in the sector. For many smallholders, the annual bonus is meant to soften that blow, which explains the sharp reaction to the low rate.
Farmers have warned that if their concerns are not addressed within seven days, they could stop delivering green leaf to the affected factories. Such a move would hit the factories hard, since they depend on a steady supply from the very growers now questioning the payout.
By Benedict Aoya
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