KTDA factories unite in bid to lift earnings for farmers
Business
By
Titus Too
| Nov 11, 2023
Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) directors from smallholder tea factories in the West Rift have forged a caucus seeking to address unique challenges leading to low tea earnings in the region.
The West Rift Smallholder Tea Factories Directors' Caucus also wants to align its operations to conform with the ongoing reforms in the tea sub-sector.
The caucus brings together KTDA directors from 40 tea processing facilities that comprise 19 major factories and their affiliates.
READ MORE
Court of Appeal should abandon its obsession with procedure and its decisions
'This must stop': 2024 Gen Z protest families plan anniversary demos
It is not till death do you part, judge tells petitioner
New Sh4b project to spruce up Nanyuki's skyline
AG, Defence Council defend military deployment during 2024 Gen Z protests
Protest victims to be compensated from next week
How 4K Club is turning learners into champions of sustainable farming
Why Mbadi's Sh4.8tn budget is out of touch with 'hustlers'
Somali referee banned by US to officiate European Super Cup UEFA
"We have resolved to form an association that will enable us to address challenges and issues which are unique to the West Rift bloc. Absorption of our made tea in external markets, identifying new markets and also concerns on high levies in the sector are among our major concerns," said David Rono, the chairman of the caucus.
KTDA has two major blocs in the country - the West Rift bloc and the East bloc.
The West caucus brings together directors of KTDA factories from Nakuru, Bomet, Nyamira, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Western and Trans Nzoia counties.
"For the benefit of tea farmers, we want to share ideas that will enhance the quality of production and earnings and make the sector more vibrant. This will enable us to compare experiences with East of Rift who are currently making higher earnings in second payments (bonus)," said Mr Rono.
Speaking during a meeting of the directors in Eldoret, he said slowed absorption of made tea from the West Rift has led to substantial stocks in godowns in Mombasa.
"Our goal is to identify new markets to boost sales and earnings for smallholder farmers. The conflict in Sudan and the Ukraine-Russia war has slowed down absorption of tea since they are major consumers of tea sourced from the West Rift, particularly Grade BB1," said Mr Rono.
He also noted that the current price of an average of $2.5 per kilo of made tea is still low.
Mr Rono said the caucus would lobby the government to reduce levies in the tea sector to improve earnings and enable farmers to increase output.
"Tea is a food item, and we shall be asking the government to consider reducing taxes on this sector. We also thank the government for the reforms under the Tea Act 2020, which saw enhanced earnings last year," he said.
Mr Rono commended the government's subsidised fertiliser programme, saying it has helped improve production.
Falling crude oil prices raise hope of relief at the pump
News of a deal to end the Iran-US war earlier this week has seen prices fall to below $100 per barrel for the first time in months.Kenya's first dollar-denominated green property fund oversubscribed as investors seek hard-currency returns
TRIFIC CEO Brenda Mbathi described the oversubscription as a strong endorsement of the quality of the underlying assets and the resilience of our business structure.Why US has beaten China to clinch Kenya's Sh9.7tr minerals deal
America has struck a preliminary minerals deal with Kenya, securing a foothold in one of the world’s largest untapped rare earth deposits worth about Sh9.7 trillion. The deal edges out China.From financing to procurement: Who is fooling whom in JKIA expansion deal?
The government has denied contracting controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s firm IMC Construction Kenya the contract to modernise and expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.Informed consumer is key to dealing with fake motor insurance certificates
Many victims are not intentionally breaking the law but are ordinary motorists who purchased insurance in good faith but were deceived by rogue and often unlicensed agents.MOST READ
- Kenya's first dollar-denominated green property fund oversubscribed as investors seek hard-currency returns
BUSINESS
By Brian Ngugi
- Why US has beaten China to clinch Kenya's Sh9.7tr minerals deal
ENTERPRISE
By Brian Ngugi
- From financing to procurement: Who is fooling whom in JKIA expansion deal?
BUSINESS