Workers pick tea [Photo/Nation.]Tea growers in Kisii County have raised alarm over the increased hawking of green tea leaves in the region.
The farmers led by John Gisemba from Kasarani tea buying center in Bomariba, Kisii South called on authorities to curb hawking of tea leaves by brokers contracted by private processors.
“Many farmers are selling tea leaves to private processors due to the influence of middlemen. This is lowering the number of serious farmers in the county. Relevant authorities should intervene to stop the brokers from persuading the farmers to sell their green tea leaves to private processors,” he said.
He said in the past Ogembo Tea Factory lorry used to make several trips to the area to collect tea leaves but these days the lorry makes only one trip with too little farmers bringing their tea leaves to buying centers.
He aid most affected areas are Mogumo, Miranga, Igonga, and Nyagwekoa.