Tea farmers in Gusii region have a reason to smile after the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) announced a Sh43.25 billion bonus to its smallholders sector.
According to Dennis onduso, a tea farmer in Kebirigo, the bonus that will be given out this round, the highest ever, will help them improve productivity compared to the previous years where they used to get lower bonuses.
On Wednesday last week, the chairman KTDA Nyamira branch Dan Onduso said this year’s bonus will be paid at an average rate of Sh27.61 per kg of green leaf, and will represent a 56.8 per cent increase over the 2013-2014 average rates of Sh17.61 per kg of green leaf.
He said the bonus is as a result of a 21 per cent jump from Sh52.6 billion earned in 2013 to Sh63.6 billion last year.
“In general, KTDA have already paid Sh14.55 billion to the farmers as initial payment, and the balance will be released as second payment next month at the rate of Sh14 per kilo,” said Onduso
The area tea boss admitted that the industry still faces numerous challenges in producing and marketing Kenyan tea in spite of the improved performance.