Today, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh Paul, CBS, led the flagging off of 99,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser at the Port of Mombasa for distribution to small-scale farmers across the country. Through the Government subsidy, farmers will access the fertiliser at KSh 2,000 per 50 kilogram bag. He urged KTDA to expedite distribution within the month and intensify farmer sensitisation ahead of the El Nino rains.
The tea sector is undergoing comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency, value addition, marketing and returns to farmers. Scientific tea testing is ready and will be fully operational within the next three months, while the Digital Green Leaf Payment System is also expected to be rolled out within the same period to ensure more transparent and efficient payments to farmers.
Dr. Ronoh further directed the Tea Research Institute to strengthen support to farmers through soil mapping, quality seedlings and data-driven research to improve productivity and tea quality. The Government continues to support the sector through factory modernisation grants, marketing initiatives, incentives and tax relief on value-addition and packaging materials.
Present were KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru, Vice Chairman Samson Mosonik, KTDA Management Services Managing Director Collins Bett, Chai Trading Company Limited Managing Director Dorcas Mohammed, and Tea Board of Kenya Managing Director Willy Mutai, among other key stakeholders.
