Kenya Tea Development Agency has been urged to introduce zones in buying centers.
According to tea farmers, this is one way of helping them overcome losses occasioned by their tea leaves overstaying in the buying center for more than two days.
Led by Richard Nyatiro, the Kenya Union of Small-scale Tea Owners (KUSSTO) have urged the KTDA to introduce zones in all buying centers so as to create a good opportunity for farmers to sell.
“We have been encountering losses, we urge KTDA to increase their staff, who will help farmers by taking their tea leaves in time,” said Nyatiro.
Nyatiro said that the KTDA management always delays in taking the tea leaves from the buying centers where the farmers' tea loses value leading to rejections by their clerks.
“We urge the management to consider farmers since most of us we depend on tea as our main cash crop," said Nyatiro.
"Hence, the KTDA should put measures in place on how to help the farmers who have been suffering,” added Nyatiro.
Atera Makori is tea farmer from Matunwa and also a chairman of Riaking’oina tea buying center he concurred with Nyatiro's sentiments and challenged the management to help the farmers.