Tea farmers from Tigoni area Limuru in Kiambu County plead the government to embrace research so as to support them improve quality and sale.
Led by Limuru Highlands Trust, the farmers say that their main challenge is production and sale, stating that if research on the same was put into consideration, then they will improve and make more profits.
In addition, the farmers urge the government to ensure the research on tea done by the Tea Research Institute is fully implemented.
They faulted the government for not considering the research on soil and environment, before taking fertilisers to different places for sale citing that soil sampling is done after every three years, and the government does not consider the status of some farms before selling the same fertilisers to all farmers.
However, they urge the government to work hand in hand with farmers so that they can establish their main challenge.
In addition, the inadequate information about tea sale internationally, and lack of research has left the best tea in the world being exposed to brokers and exploitation, where some countries buy Limuru tea and later add value to sell globally as their product.
Besides all these odds tea farmers believe there is hope in tea farming if only the government can put the seriousness needed in that sector and eliminate all the middlemen who exploit them and help in widening the tea market globally.
