The Mountain Journal
Tea farmers sold over two million kilograms of tea that traded for Sh1.4 billion in the last weekly auction in Mombasa at an average of Sh361.2 per kilograms.
In the auction, Meru based Michimikuru factory achieved the highest sales of Sh 54.7 million after the auction of 171,129 kilogrammes.
Keberigo achieved the second best income of Sh24.4 million from the sale of 84,680 kilograms which was the second highest volumes presented in the auction market.
In the previous week, the tea factories from the auction received Sh2 billion for the auction of 2,240,447 kilogrammes.
In the last week’s trade, Kinoro factory took Sh26.6 million, followed by Singanyi Sh19.8 million, Kiru Sh18.3 million.
Other factories that took the top 10 positions are Tombe Sh17.4million, Mungania Sh17.1 million, Gathuthi Sh16.4million and Roro Sh15.2 million.
According to reports obtained from East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), Gacharage tea factory earned Sh2.1 million after the auction of 6,220 kilogrammes, Kiamokama Sh2.7 million, and Igembe Sh2.8 million and received the least payment from the auction market.
Ngere and Rukiriri factories raised a revenue of Sh13 million and Sh5.8 million respectively.
KTDA Chairman Enos Njeru said the prices at the auction are competitive, calling on the growers to embrace plucking quality green leaf for the processing to attract better payment and volumes.
Njeru adds that he was working to bridge the gap between the lowest tea farmers and the highest in the annual bonus payment which can be achieved through enhanced production of quality green leaf by all the growers.
“ Through enhanced quality production, the gap between the lowest paid and the highest will be reduced, thus better bonus payment to all ,’ said Njeru.
“In our directors’ induction training we declared a road map that will encourage our growers to maintain the green leaf quality. As we go internationally to market Kenyan tea, the buyers are passionate about the taste,” said Njeru.
In the induction training in Mombasa last week, the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua underscored the need for the tea growers to continue plucking quality green leaf for the increased sales.
