Nyansiongo tea factory has served hundreds of farmers from the region with free planting fertilizers as part of the campaigns of wooing more customers to the tea company.
This comes few years after the factory reportedly lost hundreds of farmers to rival private company Kipkebe leading to reduced output of the factory.
Speaking on Wednesday as Mwongori during the exercise, factory’s chairman Mr Christopher Nyakora said the exercise is will cover all tea zones attached to the factory and said it will also be taken as an avenue to register new members.
“We decided to give free plating fertilizer not only as a way of trying to woo more members to join us but also to help our customers’ plant other crops in time. It’s just part of CSR activity of the company and its just part of business,” he said.
Nyakora said the company not only encouraged planting of tea crop but also other crops such as maize and beans which are commonly used for local consumption.
“We want to advise our esteemed farmers and those willing to join us to use the fertilizers that are being circulated to farmers with tea crops to grow maize and beans among other crops used for local consumption. Our tea company wants farmers who are all round,” he added.
He charged tea farmers against uprooting the crop and predicted substantial income in this year’s bonuses following years of dismal performance in the global market.
“I know some we are uprooting the crop but that isn’t the right way to go. Once region has improved sells and we are expecting good returns in 2016. We urge you to remain loyal to us and even get us more members. We will also make plans of giving free fertilizers every three months once the management approves a pending proposal,” he added.