Muchiri Gitonga
5 October 2008
Nairobi — Tea farmers in the larger Nyeri and Murang'a North districts will be paid a total of Sh1.8 billion as second payment for the crop delivered in the last financial year.
According to KTDA's regional manager, Mr Alfred Njagi, the total payment to the farmers during the period will amount to Sh3.1 billion.
Gathuthi factory in Nyeri will pay at a rate of Sh18 per kilogramme which is the highest amount to be paid by factories in the two districts while Kiru in Murang'a will pay the lowest at a rate of Sh13 a kilogramme.
Meanwhile, a Kenya Tea Development Agency director on Sunday termed a move by some farmers to uproot their tea bushes as politically stage-managed.
Mr Peter Kanyago claimed that some farmers in Nyeri District were uprooting their crops after being instigated by some politicians.
According to statistics provided by the director, farmers affiliated to Gathuthi factory catchment area uprooted a total of 1,200 tea bushes over the past year for various including construction of homes.
This was against 280,000 tea bushes planted within the same period.
He said this year's tea bonus was comparatively better across the board compared to last year's which showed that the future for the sub-sector was bright.
Mr Kanyago said the high cost of labour, energy and electricity were the major challenges facing the industry.
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