TEA NEWS

The ministry of agriculture has proposed new regulations in the sector, among them that all Kenyan tea must be sold in a centralized auction in Mombasa to ward off direct sales to buyers usually agreed by the Kenya Tea Development Agency and buyers.

1.448 billion kgs produced for year ended June 30 In Summary •Total production for the year ended June 30 was 1.448 billion kilograms compared to 1.127 billion kilograms the previous year. •KTDA attributed the increase to continued favourable weather across tea-growing regions and improved crop husbandry practices among tea farmers.

In Summary •This week’s price jump comes after 16 weeks of trading below the two-dollar mark, where prices averaged between $1.73 and $1.94 a kilo. •The rebound is a relief to tea farmers whose final earnings are tied to the price.

KTDA Submits To DCI Probe As Accountability Calls Mount

More than 3,000 smallholder tea farmers from Kericho, Bomet, Nandi and Nakuru counties who had diverted their green leaf supply to competitor factories have returned to KTDA-managed tea factories citing better returns and services.

MOMBASA 37 TEA AUCTION OFFERING

Governors reject new tea regulations

Summary • Hundreds of farmers stormed Kipchabo tea factory on Saturday, broke into the warehouse and made away with tea of unknown value. • Five protesters were arrested on Friday over the burning of a lorry transporting green tea. • The agency sells fertiliser to its members at about Sh1,990 per 50kg bag.

Summary • It is not clear whether Mr Kinoti will also summon the KTDA directors too, who have been using their private companies to trade with the agency as suppliers. • Previously, farmers were being paid by KTDA factories 14 to 16 shillings per kilo monthly, with the bulk of the money, which is the retained earnings, paid in October.

STRONG DEMAND CLOSELY FOLLOWING QUALITY WITH PRICES CONTINUING TO ESCALATE THROUGH TO THE CLOSE BP1 : East dearer 35/80 cts. West dearer 20/40 cts. Nandi dearer 4/12 cts. Limuru dearer 20/35 cts. Kericho dearer 2/8 cts. Uganda fully firm to 15 cts dearer. PF1 : East dearer 20/30 cts. West dearer 12/25 cts. Nandi around last. Limuru dearer 6/12 cts. Kericho dearer 4/16 cts. Uganda fully firm to 10 cts dearer. PD : East dearer 15/35 cts. West dearer 4/6 cts. Nandi dearer 5/10 cts. Limuru dearer 3/6 cts. Kericho dearer 4/8 cts. Uganda dearer 4/10 cts. D1 : Clean leaf East dearer upto 10 cts, others easier 2/4 cts. West dearer 4/8 cts. Nandi and Limuru dearer 2/5 cts. Kericho dearer 4/8 cts. Uganda dearer 4/8 cts Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Yemen very active. SECONDARIES GOOD DEMAND, STRONG ON SELECTED QUALITY FNGS : East KTDA Fngs 1 firm to dearer 5/60 cts, selected West firm to dearer 2/20 cts others easier 2/10 cts, Nandi firm to dearer 8/16 cts, Limuru firm to dearer 2/30 cts, Kericho and Uganda irregularly firm to dearer 2/15 cts. DUSTS : Good leaf and liquor East and West KTDA Dust firm to dearer 16 cts, Nandi dearer 8 cts, Limuru firm to dearer 2 cts, good leaf and liquor Kericho and Uganda firm to dearer 2/10 cts others easier by same margins. Sudan, UK, Egypt active on quality, Somalia active on the lower end of the market.

Tea Farmers In Murang’a Fault System Used To Elect KTDA Board Members

Summary • Besides the KRA, tax accountants in the sector have to deal with over 10 other agencies among them county governments’ revenue officials, the Agriculture and Food Authority and the Kenya Plant health inspectorate Service who charge various levies and taxes. • On the line is also the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the National Environment Management Authority, the Kenya Ports Authority the Department of Occupational Health and Safety as well as Weights and Measures among others.