Tea farmers from Nyamira County are likely to receive low bonuses yet again after various factories reportedly made little gains from the current tea prices in the global market, a senior official has said.
This comes a moment after a number of farmers from the area reportedly threatened to go on strike recently following inability of tea factories management from the region to release official pay per kilo as a tradition for over years.
But on Saturday, Mrs. Rachael Orina, a tea Director from Bogetutu region said the global tea prices were worrying since many factories from the region were struggling to compete globally.
“The current global prices especially in UK and USA are very worrying and we are likely yet again to give low bonuses in the months of November. This is an assurance and we want our farmers to know this as early as possible to avoid any misunderstandings,” she said.
Mrs. Orina said unlike the estimates that we give that would see farmers pocket at least 40 shillings per kilo, the prices might lower to Sh20 following shocking losses that major factories notably Nyansiongo and Nyankoba in the ending month of July.
“It’s really shocking that we haven’t really established the product globally. Major tea companies made losses and we are expecting the same trend to continue that is why farmers have to bear with us,” she added.
The information hasn’t already been received well with certain residents terming the news as ‘bogus’ and vowed to challenge management through a possible strike.
The most affected companies are Nyansiongo, Nyankoba, Sang’anyi and Tombe tea factories.