The  Mountain Journal

The Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) has moved a step further pleading with the farmers to focus on quality rather than quantity to enjoy higher bonuses.

The TBK has started a campaign  in tea growing areas,  encouraging  the farmers and smallholder farmers to prioritise picking quality tea leaves to increase their earnings.

 At the same time, Ministry of Agriculture has warned that  the privately owned  tea factories that do not comply with the law will be shut down without notice.

Those independent factories that do not comply with the law will be shut down

TBK CEO Willy Mutai said in the west of the Rift Valley focus should be on quality of the green leaf and not the quantities.

Mutai speaking in Ainamoi constituency advised farmers to focus on harvesting two leaves and a bud to earn higher bonuses.

“The difference in bonus payments between regions is directly linked to the quality of tea harvested,” said the CEO.

The TBK CEO warned  the privately owned tea factories to adhere to strict quality standards by purchasing only high-quality tea leaves, rather than accepting substandard  green leaves.

Agriculture Principal Secretary DR Paul Rono said the TBK  deals  with the rogue independent tea factories compromising quality standards by purchasing lower-grade tea leaves.