Tea farmers in Kisii County have urged managers in the sector to hurriedly address disparities in payment of bonuses among other myriad of challenges bedevilling them in a bid to succeed in revamping the industry.
The farmers who turned up in hundreds during a public hearing by the National Assembly Committee for Agriculture termed the payment of bonus at a rate of Sh24 discriminatory considering some parts of the country received theirs at a rate of over Sh60.
The committee led by the Vice Chair of the National Assembly Agriculture Committee Yegon Brighton was collecting views on the causes of payment disparities and other demoralising factors to tea farmers at Kiamokama Tea Buying Centre in Gesusu Ward, Kisii yesterday.
The views will be included in the Tea Amendment Bill 2023, which is currently before the Senate seeking to address modalities of payment for more than 600,000 small-scale farmers who supply the produce to about 70 Tea Development Authority factories in various parts of the country
One Thomas Nyagaka decried poor road network leading to delays in delivery of the highly perishable crop produce saying it led to lowering the quality of the produce.
He appealed to leaders to fast-track the improvement of the road network in rural areas to increase accessibility.
James Omariba criticised corruption and self-interest in the running of the sector saying it was impacting negatively on the farmers’ welfare.
He said the delays in the supply of the farm inputs despite deductions being made on the farmers' pay and appealed for capping of the lowest payment to cushion farmers during the current harsh economic times.
Sabina Chege, a member of the Agriculture Assembly committee said it was not fair for some regions to earn more than others.
She appealed to the area leaders to seal all loopholes leading to farmers’ losses including the elimination of ghost workers and corruption among others.
Chege urged the farmers to elect credible leaders and find ways of cutting costs to avoid wastage.
Representing the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) Samuel Njane said the views raised during the event will help improve the Tea sector laws.
Njane urged farmers to deliver their crops to the factories immediately after harvest saying the habit of selling by the roadside reduced the quality of the crop especially when it stays for long hours in the sun.
He urged all farmers to form a Green leaf agreement with their factories to eliminate the brokerage in the sector with led to losses.
He said the committee was also in the process of standardising tea quality for multinationals and private owners to have all farmers benefit at the same level.
Also present were Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka who moderated the proceedings.