This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
Published on July 9, 2020, an estimated 1,000 smallholder tea farmers in Bomet County have rejoined the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)-managed Rororok Tea Factory.
The farmers made the move after discovering that KTDA offered better returns and services compared to multinational tea factory companies in the region.
According to Mr. Gregory Marete, the Rorok Tea factory manager, KTDA provides better returns and services to smallholder tea farmers, including cheaper fertilizer and extension services.
“Despite the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic, we have maintained our commitment to providing better services to farmers,” said Mr. Marete.
He added that KTDA offers better prices for tea purchased from smallholder tea farmers and provides low-cost fertilizers, which has encouraged more farmers to return to the factory.
The farmers praised KTDA for improving services at the factories, citing better efficiency at the tea buying centres and shorter waiting times.
KTDA is owned by approximately 600,000 smallholder tea farmers spread across 16 tea-growing counties in Kenya.
