Tea farmers in Nyamira County are now calling on their factories to set standard prices to curb losses occasioned by frequent fluctuation in international market prices.
The farmers are now calling for the factories to ensure that they pay them constant monthly prices that will see them access loans from financial institutions.
The farmers, who were speaking at Kebirigo tea factory on Wednesday, claimed the factories have been pegging prices on international market which keeps on fluctuating, denying them opportunities to source loans from banks.
They also want the factories to allow them to source for private buyers for their tea, arguing that it would help them avoid losses as some private tea operators buy more than two leaves and a bud.
The farmers, led by Erick Mokora, said it is high time for KTDA to look for alternative markets for their tea to save them from loses from their crop which has been their source of livelihood for years.
“The fluctuating of tea prices is worrying and we see we will end up losing serious farmers from the area, and we call upon the management boards to come up with a long lasting solution,” he added.
Early this year, about 100 farmers allied to Kebirigo tea factory were barred from selling their produce to the factory after they declined to sign the agreement causing the farmers to incur huge loses.