Tea reform process will be backed by growers to help end tribulations they have gone through for years.
Kanyenya ini Tea Factory affiliated growers led by Wambugu Gachunji told the member Wanja Michuki that want to end Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) monopoly in the sector.
They told a member of Government-appointed tasks force on tea reforms Ms Michuki that they were in support of the reform agenda pushed by agriculture and livestock Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.
Wambugu the chairman of Aberdare and Mt Kenya, tea growers association said the growers are yawning for a change after years of exploitation by the single player.
“ The farmers are in support of the government agenda on reform targeting to improve living standard of the small scale growers who produce millions of kilogrammes of green leaf annually,” said Wambugu.
In Karurumo area in Kangema, Wanja said the reform agenda includes introducing competition in the sector for a better price of the commodity.
She was in the village in her private capacity before the farmers learned of her whereabouts in the area, and moved to her farm to air their grievances.
Agriculture Food Authority (AFA) Interim Director General Anthony Muriithi hi has issued timelines to guide the implementation of regulations to guide the tea sector.
Wanja daughter of the late Cabinet Minister John Njoroge Michuki said the reform committee was interested in a better price by looking for more market overseas for tea.
The national steering committee on the implementation of tea regulations will be chaired by veteran tea broker Jacob Kamau Kihiu, with former PS Irungu Nyakera, former MP Langat Magerer, Fredrick Muthuri Muriithi and Nation Journalist John Kamau as members.
Other members are former Tea Board of Kenya Director David Chomba Gachoki, Catherine Nyamboke Mogeni, who hails from a family of large-scale tea farmers, and the late Michuki’s daughter.
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