Nairobi — Cabinet has approved the Tea Amendment Bill, 2010, and it is now set to be presented to Parliament once it reconvenes, Agriculture minister Dr Sally Kosgei has said.

If passed, it will streamline the tea industry and ensure that small-scale farmers benefit from the sector, she added. "The bill seeks to enhance marketing of tea, regulate tea processing and remove unnecessary restrictions in tea production, while cutting down on overhead costs," she said.

Speaking in Kisumu during the official opening of the Kisumu Regional Agricultural show, Dr Kosgei said to alleviate the challenge of low processing capacity and congestion in Nyanza province, a new factory at Eberege in Kenyenya District had been constructed, while another one is under construction at Rianyamwamu in Gucha District.

Dr Kosgei disclosed that in 2009, 136.5 million kilogrammes of green leaf worth Sh4.1billion were produced in the province. She noted that the bulk of Kenya's tea, about 62 per cent, is produced by small-scale farmers through Kenya Tea Development Agency, adding that in the region, about 10 factories with a capacity of 140 million kilogrammes were in operation.