The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
A Sh 300 million speciality tea factory is being constructed in Murang’a to help in the manufacture of the product in high demand.
Njunu tea factory directors commissioned the construction of the speciality factory, designed to earn tea farmers better returns from the lucrative market.
During the groundbreaking function, factory chairman Mr John Matheri and his vice chairman Maina Gathua said the orthodox processing plant will be constructed in phases eying to improve the factory’s returns.
They said upon completion, they will install the automatic withering machine to assist in the processing of the tea, awaiting the installation of orthodox tea manufacturing equipment.
“ Njunu joins other factories in manufacturing specialty teas ready to venture in the local and international market,”said Matheri.
He added that in the new building, it will combine the sections of withering and orthodox manufacturing.
In the first phase scheduled to be completed in September next year, automatic withering machines will be installed awaiting the importation of the orthodox manufacturing equipment.
In the function, Maina asked the government to reinstate the reserve price for the interest of the farmers as suspension will affect the price.
He said the suspension of the reserve price will affect the tea sector as a kilograme traded not below $2.43.
“Our plea to the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) is to reinstate the reserve price to protect the gains made to the farmers. If there is a problem with the teas from the west of the rift that can be resolved,” said Maina.
He added that amendment of the tea act on the increase of management fee from 1.5 percent to 2 percent remains unacceptable as it was passed in 2021.
Maina said the return of the retrogressive act will hurt the sector, thus the need for the parliament and TBK to embark on public participation before the amendments.
“There is an amendment in the Tea Act that reverts the management fee to two percent after it was implemented in July” said Gathua.
