Transparency, ethics key to achieving quality tea - Kagwe

Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Mutahi Kagwe has called for transparency in the tea sector saying the government will put in place mechanisms to safeguard investments in value chain players.

He said the state shall safeguard value chain players which are privately owned saying the recent invasion by the public on tea plantations and factories will be addressed.

According to the CS, the ministry shall spearhead discussions aimed at putting in place an agricultural police unit similar to that in the tourism sector.

"What we need is transparency from anybody who is buying tea. If we ask you to tell us where you got your tea, the quantity of your tea, the corresponding acreage you have to be able to prove it, that is the regulation," the CS said.

He added that some of the farmers are using illegal means to acquire tea. The CS said those who engage in buying tea from hawkers will be deregestired.

He spoke on Thursday during a consultative meeting with the Kenya Tea Development Agency, Kenya Tea Growers Association (KTGA), Independent Tea Producers (ITP), tea traders and Members of the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) at the Tea Trade Centre.

During the meeting, they agreed that all tea stakeholders shall conduct their businesses ethically and promote transparency and good governance in their operations.

To curb green leaf malpractices such as tea hawking, they agreed that all tea producers shall abide by the standard on minimum green leaf quality for Kenyan tea.

"The ministry shall publish the green leaf quality standard for all tea producers in Kenya, and the Tea Board of Kenya shall deregister any stakeholders engaging in tea hawking," the CS said.

The CS said all tea producers shall implement targeted quality improvement strategies to enhance the quality of tea produced.

Kagwe added that the government will market and promote activities to enhance the market access of Kenyan tea in both local and international markets.

"The proposed tea levy shall ring-fence funds for establishment of a Common Tea Market Development Fund which will be used for marketing and promoting Kenya tea in the local and international markets," he said.

He said the EATTA shall move towards opening up the tea auction system for access by tea buyers and consumers globally.

According to him, the government supports the value chain players to access the emerging markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Agreement, especially on freight logistics to markets and opening up of the Common User Warehousing facilities for ease of distribution and promotion of Kenyan-origin teas in these markets.

"This is in the spirit of growing consumption of tea within the regional markets, where the potential lies."

The CS said the ministry shall pursue the waiver of taxes and duties on packaging materials and tea machinery with the National Treasury to value the addition of Kenyan tea.

The CS pledged to fast-track the process of appointing the representations of large-scale tea growers and tea traders in the Board of the Tea Board of Kenya.

"The government will explore diplomatic avenues to address the market access challenges of Kenya in Iran and Sudan Markets."

To promote the common interest of all traders, the CS said he will put in place mechanisms of establishing a Tea Council.