KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru
The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Tea growers are celebrating following the announcement that Sh2 billion they paid for fertlisers will be refunded alongside their November green leaf payment.
In the year ended on June 30, KTDA deducted Sh1.50 per kilogramme of green leaf delivered for processing in the 70 factories in east and west of rift.
In a communication to the factory managers, KTDA states that the refund which was scheduled to be released on January 5th, will be released this month alongside the November green leaf payment.
In the ongoing tea farmers general meetings, issue surrounding the fertiliser subsidy refund has been among the discussion seeking urgent repayment.
KTDA Holding Chairman Enos Njeru said the government paid the organisation money to facilitate the subsidised fertiliser thus need to refund the growers.
Njeru acknowledges the government support which has lowered the cost of input contributed better earning to the farmers.
Reconciliation for the bags each farmer received, he added, is ongoing and their accounts will be regularised later.
“ The amount that had been deducted from the bonus payment to facilitate import of the fertiliser will now be refunded to the growers as promised,” said Njeru.
At Ngere and Njunu tea factories in Gatanga, Murang’a the growers in their meeting said they were seeking a refund of millions of shillings.
Ngere factory Chairman James Githinji and his Njunu counterpart John Matheri said the farmers appreciate the refund of the money.
Githinji said Ngere was seeking for Sh90 million which was deducted from the bonus payment.
“Now since the money will be released we appeal for calmness among our farmers,” said Githinji.
Matheri said the farmers in Njunu expected in excess of Sh30 million.
“ Our farmers have been peaceful and we thank the KTDA Holding for pursuing the payment of the money by the government,” said Matheri flanked by his vice Peter Maina Gathua.
