Farmers in Imenti urge govt to intervene over low tea prices

Tea farmers from South Imenti in Meru County have appealed to the National Government to intervene and ensure they get value for the crop. They have decried falling tea prices. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Through their MP Kathuri Murungi, the farmers said low prices were making them contemplate switching to other crops.
  • He said it was important that farmers, who are the greatest players in the tea industry, be cushioned against international price fluctuations.
  • The MP urged the government to revive the sector that is the country’s leading foreign exchange earner and a source of livelihood for many Kenyans.
  • Tea has for a long time been a major foreign exchange earner for the country and is ranked third behind tourism and horticulture.

Tea farmers in South Imenti Sub-County, Meru County, have appealed to the national government to hasten efforts to raise their earnings.

Through their MP Kathuri Murungi, the farmers said low prices were making them contemplate switching to other crops.

Speaking during last weekend’s visit to Meru by President Kenyatta, Mr Murungi said there was an urgent need to explore ways of improving the sector’s performance to ensure farmers enjoy better returns.

He said it was important that farmers, who are the greatest players in the tea industry, be cushioned against international price fluctuations.

“I have already tabled a petition in Parliament over levies and taxes that deprive the farmers of their earnings.

“We want the removal of the Ad Valorem tax on tea and the Tea Board of Kenya cess which have been eating into farmers’ profit margins,” Mr Murungi said.

Noting that farmers received one of the worst bonus payouts in 2014, the legislator urged the government to revive the sector that is the country’s leading foreign exchange earner and a source of livelihood for many Kenyans.

GET VALUE FOR THEIR CROP

“We want to ensure that tea farmers get value for the crop they deliver to the factories and are protected from the dwindling fortunes,” said the legislator.

President Kenyatta said the government was working round the clock to ensure farmers earned maximum form their produce.

The Head of State noted the government was working on ways of expanding and diversifying the tea market.

He, however, noted that tea imports to other countries had greatly improved over time.

He said during a recent visit to Algeria it was agreed that the country would purchase Kenyan tea.

“We have the best tea in the world. As a government we will ensure that it is the farmer who will be the greatest beneficiary after tea sales,” Mr Kenyatta said.

Tea has for a long time been a major foreign exchange earner for the country and is ranked third behind tourism and horticulture.

There have been questions over the ability of Kenya Tea Development Agency to break into new markets to ensure sustained high earnings for the farmers.

Volatile exchange rates and high energy costs have also been attributed to the slump in international prices of tea.