This archive report was first published on 22 September 2021.
Published on September 22, 2021, a team appointed by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has proposed radical reforms to cushion tea farmers from price shocks.
The team, led by former Principal Secretary and Murang'a gubernatorial candidate Irungú Nyakera, has recommended the establishment of a Tea Fund to stabilize prices and promote value addition efforts.
The fund will be run by the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) with a board comprising of representatives of the PSs for Agriculture, Trade and National Treasury, the Chief Executive of TBK, a company secretary and other co-opted members.
The committee has also proposed the conversion of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Holdings subsidiary-the Kenya Tea Packers (Ketepa) Ltd - into a value-adding arm of the group and a blending facility for local and exports teas.
Additionally, the committee has recommended the use of plucking machines to cut harvesting costs and improved productivity by initiating the replacement of aging tea bushes, provision of extension services, and timely fertiliser application.
The committee has also proposed a maximum of eight per cent interest rate on loans to farmers from the KTDA subsidiary – Greenland Fedha and the establishment of affordable health insurance schemes for all farmers.
