Use plucking machines, Koskei urges tea farmers
A farmer uses a machine to pick tea. Agriculture CS Felix Koskei has advised tea farmers to use tea plucking machines in order to reduce high operational costs. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He also advised the farmers not to uproot their crop over falling global prices.
- The minister announced measures the ministry had taken to protect local tea farmers.
- He said the ministry was also striving to ensure farmers were supplied with subsidised fertiliser.
- He spoke Monday during a crisis meeting in Nandi Hills Town.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei has advised tea farmers not to uproot their crop over falling global prices.
He told them to use tea plucking machines to reduce high operational costs.
Mr Koskei said the fluctuation in prices in the global market was due to overproduction by other countries.
He spoke Monday during a crisis meeting in Nandi Hills Town after more than 30,000 farmers from Sireet Tea Company recently threatened to uproot their crop and invest in real estate and tree farming.
The meeting was attended by farmers and officials from tea companies.
At the same time, the minister announced measures the ministry had taken to protect local tea farmers and ensure they remain in business.
One of them is selling of the produce to new markets such as Japan, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Syria and Nigeria.
He said the ministry was also striving to ensure farmers were supplied with subsidised fertiliser.
The minister accused some Kenya Tea Development Agency directors of working with middlemen to exploit farmers.
He said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission had been asked to investigate the errant officials, and bring them to book.
