Tea farmers have expressed optimism that they will reap big in 2016 after the government intervened in the world tea market to stabilise tea prices last year, leading to increase in bonus payments.
Speaking to this writer Friday morning, a section of tea farmers said that 2015 was a good tea revolution year and expected more government intervention to eliminate cartels that reduce farmers efforts to nothing.
The farmers who suffered losses in 2014 after tea demand in European countries declined experienced upsurge in returns in 2015 after the government's intervention.
Moses Ngugi who owns a tea farm in Gakoe said that Jubilee government had proven good leadership in the agriculture sector, adding that he was ready to plant more tea that will benefit his grandchildren.
''2015 has been a good year after a dark 2014, full of hardships in the tea sector. The government's intervention and Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) control helped us to at least make an extra coin in 2015. I am very optimistic that I will reap big this year as KTDA looks into the challenges facing our market overseas,'' said Ngugi.
''I expect better harvests this year effected by the just concluded rains in the country. The government's intervention to eliminate middlemen that reduce our returns will also help tea farmers have better returns to improve their livelihood,'' Jane Kagiri, a tea farmer in Gakoe said.
Anthony Mugo, a young tea farmer in Gakoe said: "I expect the cost of fertilizers to be subsidised by the government. It’s very easy for a tea farmer to make a better living with elimination of middlemen in the market."