Tea agency to import 74,800 tonnes of fertiliser

Kenya Tea Development Authority Chairman Peter Kanyago briefs the media at Chinga Tea Factory, in Othaya, January 12, 2016, he said that tea farmers across the country are likely to miss out on a Sh 600 million fertilizer subsidy that was released by the national government. PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD

Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) will import 74,800 metric tonnes of fertiliser.

KTDA Chairman Peter Kanyago yesterday said the first consignment is expected at the Port of Mombasa next week and will be released to 67 tea factories managed by the agency.

Mr Kanyago said the move was aimed at boosting production especially at this time when tea exports were fetching better prices.

"The fertiliser is not subsidised and tea farmers are expected to bear the cost of the entire two consignments," chairman explained.

He said the agency hoped the national government would give subsidy to farmers to help them obtain it cheaply in a bid to lower production cost.

Kanyago said last year, the Government had said it would give Sh500 per 50kg bag of fertiliser but it failed to honour its promise.

"We are asking the Government to bail out farmers as it did for 2014-15 when they received a Sh321 subsidy per 50kg bag," he added.

Kanyago said the move enabled them save Sh400 million. But they missed out on Sh600 million subsidy last year. The authority imported over Sh64,200 metric tonnes of fertiliser between July and August last year.