Farmers in tea-growing zones are upbeat over the growth of the sector after receiving increased green leaf payment of Sh30 per kg, up from previous Sh25.
The increased payment was factored in the tea reforms, as the factories warned the pluckers against raising the plucking charges above the set price.
The celebrations have been rife in the tea growing belts after the KTDA Factories credited the growers’ bank accounts two weeks after the directors approved the KTDA Holding recommendations on the increased payment to match with the production cost.
In Embu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Kiambu, the farmers confirmed receipt of payment as the factories moved to tame the pluckers from increasing their payment per kg.
At Githambo tea factory, the board recommended that the cost of plucking green leaf should not be above Sh14 per kgs.
KTDA Zone six board member Enos Njeru said the factories have also warned the pluckers against increasing the prices after the review of the green leaf price.
“In Embu county, the factories of Rukuriri, Mungania, and Kathangariri, the price of plucking should not be exploitative,” said Njeru.
In Ngere tea factory, the farmers have been urged to continue producing the quality green leaf to support in the marketing of the quality teas.
But farmers in Kericho and Bomet would get Sh23 per kg of green leaf owing to reduced prices in the market and low volumes of tea in the factories.
The boards in the two counties assured the growers to review the payment in the future once the market improves.
Imenti factory leadership dares the farmers against paying above Sh15 for the green leaf plucking.
In a notice, the factory indicates that the plucking charges are between Sh 12 and Sh15 and action will be taken against any paying above the figure.
” Paying above Sh 15 per kgs will led to suspension of a farmer,” read part of the notice.
