A good deal for frostbitten growers

For Nicolas Kemboi, a tea farmer in Nandi County, the expected tea bonus pay day will be the happiest moment since heavy frost wiped out much of the tea in his area last year. The frost was later followed by a dry spell, dashing hopes of making good money this year.

But the announcement by Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) that it will be giving Sh45 billion in bonuses to tea farmers, the highest ever, has raised hopes once again.

“We are hopeful that despite the heavy frost, we will earn enough to help us buy the things we need,” said Mr Kemboi, echoing the feelings of most tea farmers in Western region and North Rift.

But those in Central see things differently. Farmers at the Gathuthi Tea Factory in Tetu district, the second-best paying factory in the country, said the amount was too small.

The farmers, who were paid Sh42 as a bonus last year, came second to their counterparts in Imenti who will be paid Sh48.15 per kilogramme towards the end of next month.

Jackson Munyua, who sells his tea at Gathuthi, said the farmers were expecting to earn Sh60 per kilogramme.
He said farmers had spent too much on farm inputs.

“We expected to be paid Sh60 per kilogramme and the monthly payments to go up from Sh14 to Sh20 so that we can be able to meet our basic needs,” said Mr Munyua.

The farmers said they have been using both organic and inorganic fertiliser for their farms and that good husbandry has seen them earn more than other farmers in the region.

They further said that their earnings would have been higher, but their earnings were low due to some money they were contributing to the factory.

The factory is constructing a power generating plant on the River Gura to cut fuel use, and farmers have been contributing Sh2 for every kilogramme for the last four years.

The farmers say they make sure to pick the high quality leaves which they say have increased their earnings.
Farmers in Murang’a expect to receive Sh5.7 billion in bonuses. The county has 10 tea factories producing 20 per cent national tea production.

Farmers are also happy about the increased bonus funds, and many are optimistic that the amount will go a long way to improve their lifestyles.

Several of those interviewed said they would use the windfall to pay school fees, construct new houses or invest in business ventures.

Farmers from seven counties in western Kenya and in the North Rift region are to pocket Sh14.8 billion of the Sh45 billion which KTDA is paying out to its farmers in bonuses this year.

Surprisingly, old and established counties, which are known for tea-growing in Kenya, and giants such Kericho and Kisii and Nandi counties have been beaten and their place taken by counties such as Bomet and Nyamria which were created later.

KTDA farmers in Central Rift and North Rift region lost more than Sh1.5 billion when frost attacked tea plantations in the country. Nandi County recorded highest case of tea destroyed by the frost due to national climate change and prolonged droughts in December 2011 and January and March 2012.

Reported by Eric Mutai, Tom Matoke and Samuel Karanja.