TEA NEWS #TEA KENYA

Farmers in Kiambu County frustrated by poor returns of coffee and tea are shifting from growing the two cash crops to the more lucrative macadamia trees to make good earnings.

• The former PS said tea prices have increased by a dollar barely a month after Agriculture CS Peter Munya put his foot down regarding the direct sale of tea by KTDA. • Nyakera said after the sale of the tea at the Mombasa auction, the money is channelled to a pool bank account owned by KTDA and only 30% is paid to farmers monthly.

Tealand Smallholder Tea Farmers Association Chairman Richard Cheruiyot said this will force KTDA to start paying farmers not less than 50 per cent of their deliveries as monthly payments with the balance being paid as annual bonus.