Nyeri:Tea growers at the mercy of the proposed regulations, says Munya

By TMJ Reporter in Nyeri County

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has pleaded with The Senate to pass tea regulation 2020 for the interest of growers who require improving their living standards.

The CS said the growers  are passionate that the regulations to be implemented by Agriculture Food Authority (AFA)  will bring to an end their suffering.

 Munya said it was unfortunate to see the Senate Committee refuse to accede to the regulations that have been subjected to public participation.

Munya  said it was his humble appeal to the senate  to pass the regulations once brought on the floor of the house on Tuesday next week.

In public participation forums conducted in tea growing areas, farmers and other stakeholders were consulted as the law demands and gave regulations a clean bill of health.

He accused a section of governors opposed to the tea regulations 2020 adding that tea belonged to farmers and was not a personal property of individuals.

 Speaking at Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri county, during the launch of coffee-flavored yoghurt which is a joint venture between the university and local milk processor, Wakulima Cooperative Dairy Ltd, he said the move was ill-informed as the reforms were geared towards repositioning the tea industry towards profitability.

“ The intention of the regulations  to make the sector profitable through weeding out cartels and middlemen in the value chain,” said the CS.

 He disclosed that there were a few people among them two or three governors, who have issues with the rules.

“Tea does not belong to the CS or one person but belongs to farmers. Why would the committee fault proposals and recommendations from farmers,” said Munya.

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