Tea growers fear gains
realised since the sector was liberised 20 years ago would be ruined, if the
regulations will be imposed by the government.
A section of growers in Gatanga, Murang’a,
said the government was ill advised to introduce the regulations, without
consulting the experts on the challenges experienced and the possible solution.
Led by Rachael Mbogo, they said the government
was only interested in ejecting Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) through
manipulation by a section of leaders.
They spoke at Ngeere tea factory, as Agriculture
Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya is set to
hold a meeting with tea growers drawn from Murang’a’s 10 tea processing
factories.
Mbogo said despite
some of the challenges experienced by individual farmers, the sector since it was liberalized there has
been gains with payment for deliveries made at the end of every month.
“What Munya is talking
about is a resolution of a few growers as majority are not aware of the
regulations. The government to ensure there is transparency should dirtect
farmers convened at their respective factories
to deliberate on the regulations,” she said.
Wainaina Muturi said majority of the growers
lack information about the regulations set to be imposed in the sector.
“ The Agriculture CS
should have involved the growers in the drafting of the regulations at the
buying centre level. This will not work as reducing number of directors to
three will amount to killing of the
sector,” said Wainaina.
Last month Agriculture Food Authority (AFA) released a
timeline on how the regulations to control the tea sector will be implemented.
Munya is expected to hold a meeting with local
growers at Ndaka ini grounds in Gatanga, where he will be accompanied by
Governor Mwangi wa Iria and AFA Interim Director Anthony Muriithi.
Coming of Munya in Murang’a coincides with
meetings that have been held by members of tea implementation task force in
Kiharu and Kangema sub counties.
The members
of the committee are former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, journalist John Kamau
and Wanja Michuki, daughter to
the late John Njoroge Michuki.
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