Tea farmers in Nyamira have raised concern over what they termed as being sidelined by the government in the sector in provision of farm inputs at subsidised costs.
Speaking to this reporter on phone on Thursday, Tombe tea factory chairperson board of directors Wilfred Nyakundi said that the farmers in the country were the only one not receiving subsidised farm inputs.
He said that the farmers felt neglected by the government, as all other cash crop growers were being provided with subsidised farm inputs like seeds and fertiliser.
"Other farmers except tea growers enjoy the government's subsidised farm inputs, we greatly depend on this crop as our main cash crop and the government has to consider us equally with the rest of farmers. We depend on tea for our livelihoods and we educate our children from this plant," said Nyakundi.
Nyakundi also asked the government to assist farmers in finding a market for their finished products in order to offer competitive prices to counter the local hawkers who are paying slightly much better than the agency.
Averagely, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), an umbrella body for all tea growers in Kenya purchases a 50 kg fertilizer at Sh2300.
"Due to the fluctuating market prices, sometimes we are burdened in paying for the fertiliser we give our farmers and cater for our day to day upkeep of our families," he concluded.
Farmers at the end of each month receive a minimum of 14 per kilogram of green tea delivered to the factory.
Photo: Tombe tea factory Director Wilfred Nyakundi. He has asked the government to give tea farmers subsidised fertilizer. DNyamanga/Hivisasa.com