Tea farmers from Tigoni, Kiambu county have asked the government to embrace research in supporting them improve quality and sale.
The farmers under the umbrella of Limuru Highlands Trust said their main challenge is production and sale.
They however said with research, they can improve and make more profits.
The farmers spoke at Oak Ridge Gardens in Tigoni, Limuru on Saturday.
They were speaking with the Eco Business Fund, which supports and funds tea farmers.
Led by LHT convener Njoki Wainaina, the farmers urged the government to ensure research done by the Tea Research Institute is implemented.
She faulted the government for not considering research on soil and environment, before procuring fertilisers and distributing it.
Wainaina said soil sampling is done after every three years.
She advised the government to consider the status of the soil on farms while selling fertilisers to different farmers.
"The sale of subsidised fertilisers was a good idea, but research would have guided the government more on where to take which fertilisers. Some of our farmers have not bought it," Wainaina said.
However, LHT chairman Njoroge Ng'ang'a urged the government to work hand in hand with farmers so that they establish their main challenge.
He said inadequate information about international markets and lack of research has left the best tea in the world exposed to brokers who exploit them.
Ng'ang'a said some countries buy tea from Limuru and add value to it before selling it expensively in other countries.
Wainaina further said local farmers in Tigoni have started adding value to the tea they produce and are also selling it locally and internationally.
“We know our tea is among the best quality in the world. We want to compete with the countries that buys from us, process it with different spices and sell it,” she said.
Wainaina said they use methods learnt from the Japanese, of blending the tea leaves with spices.
She said even though it's sale has not picked up well locally and internationally, they have faith that if the government supports them, they will get better markets and earn more profit.
The farmers however urged the government to take tea farmers seriously.
They said there is hope in tea farming, if middlemen are defeated and better market is achieved.
