RELIEF TO BOMET TEA FARMERS AS HIGH COURT NULLIFIES NEW TEA BILL

Introduction 

Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. It contributes approximately 26% of our GDP and another 27% indirectly through linkages according FAO. It employs 70% of Kenya's population in rural setting. The most valuable agricultural export is tea. Kenya  is the largest exporter of tea accounting close to 22%  of the total world tea exports. Tea sector contributes 4% of our country's GDP and 26% of Kenya's total export earnings.

Challenges in tea sector
In the last 5 years, tea sector has been facing numerous challenges and hence farmers have been receiving low pay from their farm produce. Key among them include: 

    • Corruption by KTDA officials. This has led to low bonuses which does not correspond to the cost of inputs and labor. Hence loss to farmers.
    • Unfavorable weather conditions. In the past 2 years, most areas have experienced high rainfalls accompanied by hail and stones. This destroys tea and hence loss to the farmers.
    • Lack of direct market. The law regulating tea sector doesn't allow direct export. This has led to few cartels managing and mismanaging the sector at EATTA Centre hence the farmer cannot reap maximum benefits from the commodity.  
    • Too much charges on tea. There are a lot of charges being imposed on farmers and hence farmers cannot make money from the commodity.
    • Determining the cost of production. It has proved futile due to lack of method of determining.
    • Procurement  and Tea pricing. They are not easily available.
Tea reforms  

Earlier this year, parliament passed tea bill that has seen revival Tea Board of Kenya and adoption of regulation to govern the tea sector. However, the challenge with the bill is that, there was no direct market for the farmer. 

Steps Taken by Bomet County to Save the Sector.

Bomet Governor late last year looked for the largest tea market in Iran. He met Iran Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Jafar Barmaki. Iran consumes approximately 550,000 kg of tea in average.  Bomet on the other hand produces 350,000metric tonnes of high quality tea.



What it will mean to get direct market for Bomet tea farmers.

It will therefore means that Bomet will have to market their tea directly in the Iran market and get an opportunity to promote our tea. Further, it will increase Iran customers loyalty and hence maintaining the demand. 

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