Directors appeal to government on tea market

Stakeholders in tea sector have continued pleading with government  to review some of the proposed reform.

The directors of tea factories in Embu County made a passionate appeal to Ministry of  Agriculture to consider reviewing some of the reforms in the regulations  to save the sectors from losing the international market.

They said whereas the Crops (Tea Industry) Regulations, 2020 have sections that favours the growers starting next year, some proposals would bring down the small scale tea sector.

KTDA Board member Samuel Ireri and Mungania Tea Factory Director Samuel John Njagi,  said the proposal to abolish the direct overseas sales (DSO) so that all tea sales go through the Mombasa auction should be reviewed.

They said  there are two major international traders who buy tea from Mungani Factory at a premium price.

“Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya  should allow  Mungania and other factories that have links with the international market to  continue selling our tea directly,” he said.

Njagi Chairman of Mungania Fair Trade Organisation said through direct sales they get an extra 50 cents per kilo of tea sold.

 Fairtrade, he said has helped to initiate community based projects that include building of schools among others. The directors spoke at Kiriari Primary School while issuing 10,000 face masks to tea farmers, equipment to health facilities and schools and desks worth Sh400,000 to schools, all financed through FairTrade Organisation

“We appeal to the government to look into our concerns and allow direct sales to continue. The direct sales ,” he said.

They noted that tea production in the country, has risen this year, with Mungania Factory attaining 24.2 million kilograms compared to 17.8 million kilogrammes of green leaf delivered last year.

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