The move is meant to address operational effectiveness as part of the ongoing reforms targeting the tea sector to ensure that farmers enjoy more earnings from the produce.
According to PS for Agriculture Dr. Kiprono Rono, the government planned to reduce taxes affecting tea as well as waive levies on packaging materials which is part of value-addition measures.
Dr. Rono added that through the ongoing tea reforms, local tea would be subjected to direct sales to reduce the cost of transaction and enhance earnings
“We have set a budget of 3.5B to improve infrastructure on all 19 tea factories to boost their efficiency and meet quality demands”, said Dr. Rono.
Speaking in Naivasha during an engagement with Kericho MCAs, the PS said the Country will in October, this year host an international conference on tea, aimed at unlocking more markets for local produce.
According to the PS, the reforms were also targeting other value chains including coffee, pyrethrum, avocado and sugar.
For instance, the PS said Kericho was part of 19 counties set to benefit from over 500,000 pyrethrum seedlings, 1.2m coffee seedlings and 27 sugar varieties, which are high-yielding and also drought-resilient, disease-resilient, with less maturity period.
In addition, Dr. Rono said the government was targeting 1,450 ward cooperatives across the country where farmers would acquire certified seedlings and financing for their produce.
The PS said the government is launching last-mile fertilizer distribution centers where farmers will benefit from low-cost fertilizers well as extension services.
On his part, Dr. Patrick Mutai, Kericho County speaker welcomed the support for various value chains including coffee, pyrethrum, avocados and the tea reforms.
Dr. Mutahi called for more collaboration between the county government and the Department of Agriculture to ensure full implementation of programs
On his part, the County Majority leader Philip Rono said Kericho was among the counties set to benefit from seedlings for coffee, and avocado which had seen farmers’ earnings enhanced.
He lauded the government financing and legislation that have revitalized coffee reforms in the country adding that farmers continue to enjoy better earnings from the crop.
“We welcome the introduction of a new fodder crop variety, juncao, which has been distributed to all farmers in all county wards boosting milk farmers’ production and earnings,” he said.
By KBC Correspondent
