Tea farmers affiliated to Kenya Tea Development Agency ( KTDA) are set to benefit from cheaper loans after Greenland Fedha, a non-deposit taking micro finance institution, reduces interest rates from 21 to 8 per cent by December.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya said high interest rates on loans had impoverished farmers, adding that the government will take measures to lower the rates to five per cent to comply with the agricultural policy.
He said that high production and transport cost was hurting farmers and challenged managers of the factories to reduce unnecessary costs to boost farmers’ earnings.
“The government transports tea from factories to Mombasa using the Standard Gauge Railway and has reduced the cost compared to hauling them by lorries” Munya said.
This, he added, enables tea to be sold immediately to avoid unnecessary expenses on storage at Warehouse.
Munya spoke at Itumbe and Ogembo tea factories in Kisii County after sensitizing farmers on reforms in the tea sub-sector.
Higher bonus The CS said farmers are poised to earn higher bonus next year following reforms in the sector initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January, adding that cartels who exploited farmers have been weeded out.
He advised the County government and the agency to offer extension services to help raise quality of green tea leaves so as to fetch high prices and boost farmers’ earnings.
Munya asked managers of factories in West of Rift Valley to strive to lower production costs, saying the cost of processing a kilogramme of green tea leaves in the region was higher compared to other areas.
Credit:PD
38474 534019This really is a superb blog, would you be involved in performing an interview about just how you created it? If so e-mail me! 27739
28607 399252 There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you produced certain nice points in capabilities also. 689673
126021 586512Woh I like your blog posts, saved to fav! . 171903
331620 578408I undoubtedly didnt realize that. Learnt some thing new nowadays! Thanks for that. 88214
997935 510465As I web web site possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling magnificent , appreciate it for your hard work. You need to keep it up forever! Best of luck. 750965
235724 725001Inexpensive Gucci Handbags Is normally blogengine a lot much better than wp for reasons unknown? Really should be which is turning out to be popluar today. 307042
14713 151104Im having just a little concern I cant subscribe your feed, Im using google reader fyi. 973826