The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Tea farmers this week earned Sh1.3 billion from the sale of 5.4 million kgs at the Mombasa tea auction to the 59 local and international buyers .
In the market Kenya sold f 10.2 million kgs sourced from Kenya KTDA factories and the independent tea producers
Report Tea Brokers East Africa Limited (TBEAL) indicates that the auction sold 1,089 million kgs from Uganda, Tanzania 73,496 kgs, Rwanda 860,188 kgs and Burundi 71,676 kgs.
Further the report stated that Mununga, Gathuthi,Rukuriri, Kathangariri and Kimunye sold their tea at the rates of between Sh380 and Sh321 per kg sold.
Tea factories of Mununga earned Sh 60.2 million ( 158,644kgs, Gathuthi Sh26.6 million, Rukuriri Sh44.3 million and Kimunye Sh 354 million.
Murang’a Ngere tea factory sold158,336 kgs that earned the growers Sh48,767,488, Njunu tea factory sold 93,469kgs that earned the growers Sh 28 million and Nduti Sh14.5 million. Gacharage tea sold tea worth Sh24.4 million.
In the west of the rift, Momul factory auctioned 75,908kg that fetched Sh 20. 2 million.
In the market, Boito and Kobel sold their tea at the rate of Sh147 per kilogramme.
In the buyers category analysis, Global Tea bought 18,880kgs, KTDA owned Chai Trading 17,020 kgs, LAB international 15,060 kgs, Mitchell Cot 11,440 kgs , while Crown Gold Food procured 20kgs among others.
A director at Njunu tea factory, Isaac Muiruri said the factory was ranked in position 16 nationally owing to the farmers dedication in production of the quality green leaf.
“ Our farmers are aware that only quality tea will earn them the best payment, thus the dedication throughout the year,” said Muiruri.
Ngere tea factory chairman James Githinji said the directors are determined in the production of the quality tea..
“There are teams that include the agriculture extension officers that visit the farmers regularly as Ngere is determined to produce the best quality in the market,” said Mr Githinji.
KTDA Chairman Chege Kirundi appealed to farmers to continue in the production of the best quality in the market, thus earning higher payment.
“The stakeholders should work to explore more tea markets to enable farmers to fetch better returns,” said Kirundi.
