A farmer picks tea on a farm. [File, Standard]
The Kenya Tea Development Authority has procured two million bags of fertiliser, which will be issued to over 600,000 farmers starting next month.
The move comes after delays in the shipment of the cargo due to technical and logistical challenges, as the fertiliser was to be supplied to farmers this month ahead of expected rainfall.
KTDA National Chairman Enos Njeru announced that the authority will receive 99,000 metric tonnes of the fertiliser next month, with supplies expected to be immediately available to eagerly waiting farmers.
“We have procured 99,000 metric tonnes, worth two million bags (50kgs) of fertiliser, which will arrive early next month and will be supplied to farmers immediately amid delays from the source,“ said Njeru.
He announced that KTDA is diversifying its market for local tea to boost farmers' earnings after recording a drop in tea prices in the last couple of months.
Njeru said KTDA was awaiting a court direction on the implementation of the 0.8 per cent levy that had been gazetted by the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, after a section of farmers petitioned the courts on the matter.
He rejected claims reported in a section of the media regarding alleged irregular or illegal payments to one of the fertiliser suppliers amounting to approximately Sh.322.5 million, saying that investigations were ongoing.