This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
On November 11, 2019, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, concluded a visit to Kenya for a peer review meeting by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Kericho County to establish a tea processing factory in Plateau.
The MoU was signed by Professor Danladi Atu, Secretary to Government of Plateau State, on behalf of the State, and Joes Bett, County Secretary of Kericho in Kenya, witnessed by the two Governors.
During the visit, the Plateau entourage toured the Ketepa Tea Processing and Packaging Company, the largest tea farming company driven by a farmer cooperative society in Kenya.
The company's Managing Director, Albert Otochi, explained that the company was founded by small-scale farmers who are the major shareholders and determine its day-to-day running through the board of directors.
"The farmers are encouraged to cultivate tea and coffee, which is then bought off them by the company and processed, thereby creating employment for the host communities and boosting their economy," Otochi said.
Lalong noted that Kericho County shares similarities with Plateau State in weather, topography, and agricultural endowments, and stated that the processing factory could result in the creation of "PLATEAU TEA" that could make inroads into the Nigerian market.
