Patrick Muriungi
23 January 2006
Nairobi — Tobacco farmers in the country earned Sh360 million from the crop during the current crop season.
British-American Tobacco (BAT) managing director, Simon Welford, said that although the country was experiencing severe drought, tobacco production had not been affected.
He said the company had already bought two million kilogrammes of tobacco leaves this year worth Sh100 million and urged farmers to intensify production of high quality crop.
Welford said farmers contracted by the company have planted over 600,000 tree seedlings under its afforestation effort, adding that last year, more than two million seedlings were planted.
He was speaking at Igoki dispensary in North Imenti constituency during the handing over of a medical laboratory to the area MP, Finance Minister David Mwiraria.
The company financed the construction of the facility at a cost of Sh700,000.
Mwiraria thanked BAT for its investment in Kenya noting that the company was upgrading its cigarette plant in Nairobi at a cost of US$12 million.
The factory will be the second largest in Africa and will cater for the East and Central Africa markets as well as the horn of Africa.
The Minister praised the company's move saying it will boost the Government's economic recovery efforts.
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