This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
On January 14, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the implementation of the 2019 Tea Taskforce Report, which aims to improve tea farmers' earnings.
The new directive targets to ensure that only 20% of local tea produce is sold at the auction, while the remaining 80% is sold directly to buyers.
This move is expected to increase farmers' earnings, as they will be able to sell their produce at a higher price.
According to the President, the Mombasa Tea Auction will only be apportioned 20% of all tea produced in the country, while the remaining 80% will be sold directly to buyers.
Additionally, the Agriculture ministry is expected to explore the option of KTDA paying farmers no less than 50% of their deliveries as monthly payments, with the balance being paid as an annual bonus.
The newly developed Tea Regulations 2019 is also expected to be finalized and gazetted within the next two weeks.
President Uhuru has also directed the National Treasury to impose a 16% VAT on milk imports from outside the EAC, in a move aimed at reducing the flooding of milk in the market.
Further, the treasury will give the New KCC 1 billion shillings to mop up excess milk from farmers and convert it to powder milk, with the funds also meant to cater for the construction of the creamery's additional processing plants in Nyeri and Nyahururu.
