Tea price has
improved after the government outlawed Overseas Direct Market.
Agriculture Cabinet
Secretary Peter Munya said he had nothing personal with Kenya Tea Development
Agency (KTDA), but interested in farmers getting their rightful share.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya
Speaking at Ndaka ini
grounds when he addressed tea farmers drawn from 10 factories in Murang’a, he
said between June and August price of the commodity at the auction has improved
to the advantage of the growers.
The direct market, he said had been operated by
cartels, thus need for regulations to guide the sector.
He said government
backed regulations are geared at eradicating cartels, and have all deal done through
the open Mombasa Tea Auction.
Accompanied by (Agriculture
Food Authority) Interim Director-General Mr Anthony Muriithi, Munya said
factories in Murang’a and in other parts of the country have benefited through
auction system.
“At the auction, we also want to automate the
systems to ensure the buyers would not manipulate the prices,” said Munya.
AFA Interim Director General Anthony Muriithi
The CS stated that all
stakeholders in the sector including KTDA, County Governments and assemblies presented
their recommendations.
MPs Sabina Chege (Murang’a) and Joseph Ngugi (Gatanga)
supported the regulations saying the farmers need value for their sweat.
They said, President
Uhuru Kenyatta has shown great interests with tea, thus a need for regulations
that will protect the growers.
AFA a month ago
released timelines on the implementation of the regulations focusing at the
election of the directors through ‘One Grower One Vote’ system.
During the
function Kariara MCA Joel Murigi was booed and heckled
by the farmers. The farmers could not allow him to proceed with his speech.
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