This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
Published on October 12, 2019, Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA) has blamed the current model of the sector's management for the woes the once-thriving industry is facing.
KTGA Chief Executive Apollo Kiarii stated that the Government is relying on a model that encourages only a few stakeholders to benefit from the country's top foreign exchange earner.
According to industry data, the country produced and exported more than 400 million kilos of tea last year, fetching over Sh140 billion.
"Indeed, many of the challenges that tea farmers are facing are based on lack of proper regulation and oversight of the once vibrant sector," Kiarii said.
He further criticized Government agencies, saying they are letting down farmers in terms of ensuring they adhere to good farming practices, which has negatively affected the quality of the beverage.
"Agencies such as the Agriculture and Food Authority are a big letdown because they do not ensure that what now comes to the market is not rubbish but actually high-quality tea," Kiarii said.
East African Tea Traders Association Managing Director Edward Mudibo said the body has initiated talks with various regulatory agencies to bring to an end many of the issues that threaten the welfare of the sector.
"Among the issues, we are looking at is how, rather than waiting for a while to be paid in a lump sum, farmers will be paid on a formula that best works for them," Mudibo said.
