Kiambu County KTDA board member, David Muni said the increased pay is as a result of improved cash flows by the agency from the successful implementation of tea reforms that the government set to mitigate against the declining earning by the smallholder tea growers.

Smallholder tea farmers in Kiambu County are set to receive increased payment for every kilo of green leaf sold to Kenya Tea Development Agency from January next year.

โ€œThe reserve price at the auction has cushioned farmers by ensuring their teas are not sold below a certain price point. Another thing that will lift farmersโ€™ monthly earnings is improved to tea quality and quantity ,expanded markets ,improved tea prices in the international markets and dropped cost of production,โ€œ said Ronoh.

Ronoh implored on the farmers to embrace technology through the implementation of automated tea manufactures and processing and mechanical tea harvesters that will gradually replace the hand pickers.

โ€œThere is a misconception that the mechanization of tea picking will result in joblessness. Mechanization is a key components of technology that will see farmers intensify their production for better earnings,โ€ added Ronoh.

Lower tea production is attributed to drought conditions and depressed rainfall which dominated farm output resulting in the contraction of the agricultural sector.

Ronoh called on farmers to apply fertilizer to tea bushes to ensure consistent high quality and premium tea production.

By: Sally Namuye

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

READ ALSO:   Maize surplus in Kenya to hit 7 million by the end of March