A tea farmer affiliated to Gathuthi Tea Factory after delivering his produce at Ndugamano Tea Buying Collection Center (PHOTO:Kibata Kihu)The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has raised concerns on some provisions of the new Tea Act 2020. The Act aims to improve the management of the 69 tea factories owned by small-holder farmers in 21 counties. He noted that tea hawking would be now dealt owing to the requirement that tea growers be registered with the tea factory to which they deliver. "The provision demanding that tea growers must be registered with the tea factory to which they deliver green leaf is important in that it will deal with the issues of tea hawking that has, oftentimes, denied smallholder tea farmers the full benefit of their crop,” he stated. Njagi explained that the Tea Research Foundation would also play a key role in ensuring enrichment of Kenya’ tea, its competitive and diversification of tea products.

Source: Standard Digital January 10, 2021 08:03 UTC