Kapsara: In an effort to revamp the tea sector, the national government has given Sh44.6 million to Kapsara tea factory in Trans Nzoia County. The funds are part of the wider Sh3.5 billion grant the government set aside to modernise equipment and machinery in small-scale tea farmers’ factories across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, while handing over the Sh44.6 million cheque to Kapsara Tea Factory management, emphasized the government’s commitment to modernising the tea sector to enhance productivity. Kagwe warned against misuse of the funds and urged the management to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose of purchasing a modern withering machine. He highlighted that the new machine, which consumes less power, will help reduce losses, enabling farmers to earn more from their produce.
Kagwe further revealed that plans are underway to leverage technological advancements to boost productivity, including the potential use of drones for tea picking, monitoring, and surveillance. He assured farmers that embracing technology would not lead to job losses but would instead increase efficiency and create more opportunities.
Highlighting Kenya’s tea export to more than 50 countries, Kagwe noted that the government aims to enhance value addition and branding to make Kenyan tea a leader on the global stage. He mentioned Denmark as a key partner and expressed the government’s intention to expand the market further to adapt to changing market trends.
Kagwe also challenged farmers and stakeholders in the tea sector to focus on quality rather than quantity. He dismissed reports suggesting that the government plans to impose a tea levy on farmers, assuring them that there is no such plan in place.
