Mombasa: The Government has set aside Sh10 billion to support value addition, mechanization, and modernization of smallholder tea farmers’ factories in a move aimed at increasing farmers’ earnings. Principal Secretary (PS) for Agriculture Dr. Paul Ronoh stated that the Government had already disbursed Sh4.5 billion, with Sh1 billion allocated to the factory modernization programme and the remainder going towards fertilizer subsidies.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Ronoh made these remarks at the Port of Mombasa while flagging off 30,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer destined for smallholder tea farmers under the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), just ahead of the rainy season. This consignment marks the first segment of the 99,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer scheduled for distribution to tea farmers nationwide.
Dr. Ronoh praised KTDA for its timely procurement of the fertilizer, contrasting it with the previous year’s delay, which saw the fertilizer arriving in December. He affirmed that the Government had introduced robust reforms within the tea sector to boost efficiency and enhance the earnings of smallholder farmers.
“I know you have received some money, and we will now go ahead and make sure that we provide the remaining money for KTDA so that they can also have a very effective and efficient operation and also remain afloat in the sector,” assured the PS.
Dr. Ronoh highlighted that the tea auction report indicated a positive trend in farmers’ earnings, as KTDA had successfully sold all the tea, with prices rising thanks to intensified marketing efforts by the Government through the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK).
“We have no doubt as government that the tea sector will really transform for the betterment of the tea farmers and Kenya as a whole when it comes to economic transformation,” said the PS, adding that tea growers would purchase the fertilizer at Sh2,000, similar to other farmers.
KTDA was instructed to procure the fertilizer from international markets through competitive and transparent processes to ensure quality production. TBK was commended for enhancing enforcement measures within the sector.
“I want to urge our tea farmers to make sure that the tea they are plucking from their tea bushes meets the required quality. Additionally, they have been concerned with the testing of tea, which I want to assure the tea farmers and the Kenyans that a scientific tea testing centre is now ready and is under piloting, and soon we will launch it for full operationalisation,” said the PS.
Farmers were advised to heed guidance from Agricultural Extension Officers and KTDA regarding the optimal timing for fertilizer application amidst the potential El Ni±o conditions affecting the country. The private sector was encouraged to capitalize on the waiver of taxes on packaging materials.
“Unlike the past, whereby the tea is taken outside Kenya in bulk, and they are packaged outside, we want all Kenyan tea to be packaged in Kenya, made in Kenya, and manufactured at a particular factory, XYZ,” Dr. Ronoh added.
He further stated, “That is the government policy. As we process our tea, we need to reduce the bulk importation of tea to packaging our tea in Kenya because the government has given an incentive to all packers by waiving the taxes on packaging material, which has been a big problem in the tea sector.”
KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru reported that the consignment, once bagged, would yield approximately 1.9 million 50-kilogramme bags of NPK 26:5:5 chemically compounded fertilizer.
“This is a significant undertaking, but it reflects the scale at which KTDA operates on behalf of smallholder tea farmers,” stated Njeru, adding that KTDA procured fertilizer in bulk through competitive international bidding.
The fertilizer will be transported to Nairobi by train before being distributed by road to tea factories, where farmers will collect it. “Timely application of fertilizer is important for maintaining healthy tea bushes and ensuring consistent production of quality green leaf. Our tea extension officers from the factory are at hand to advise farmers on the proper application timing, methods and amounts,” said the KTDA chairman.
