This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
The government has set a deadline for the implementation of new tea regulations, which are expected to transform the sector and improve the lives of farmers. The regulations, unveiled by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya on May 21, will be implemented at the end of the month, according to the government.
Speaking at a press briefing at Kilimo House in Nairobi, CS Munya said the regulations are a step towards addressing persistent problems in the sector, including graft, exploitation of farmers, and conflict of interest in the management of the tea value chain.
“Having given all tea-sector players sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the new regulatory requirements and to create their own internal implementation capacity, the tea industry regulations are now ready for implementation,” CS Munya said.
The new regulations aim to empower farmers by creating a transparent and accountable value chain, increasing farmer incomes, and challenging the dominance of middlemen. Tea factories must also be constructed and commissioned within three years of the issuance of the license, failure to which the license will lapse.
According to the document on implementation timelines for the new regulations, tea brokers, buyers, and the auction organiser shall ensure that the proceeds from the sale of tea are remitted to the tea factory’s accounts within 14 days from the date of auction.
Published on August 4, 2020, in The Standard.
