Murang'a tea farmers to get Sh5 billion bonus

Tea farmers affiliated to 10 factories in Murang'a will get a share of Sh 5.6 billion for their annual bonus.
Farmers affiliated to Ngeere tea factory in Gatanga Sub County emerged the highest beneficiary countrywide as its farmers will share out Sh 970 million which will be paid at Sh 35 per kilogramme of the delivered green leaves.

Makomboki tea factory emerged the second best in Murang'a county after its farmers will share Sh 719 million from the package.
on Wednesday, local farmers expressed joy with the new bonus payment saying they expected more owing to the impressive market growth.
Julius Mwangi from Maire village in Kigumo said they expected better payment as local produce dominated the international market.
KTDA board of directors led by Francis Macharia and Eng Erastus Gakuya termed the payment as impressive owing to condusive returns from the international market.
Gakuya speaking to The Standard said the farmers in the region will be paid for their bonus between Sh 30 and Sh 35 per kilogramme of the delivered green tea leaves for processing.
" This an increment in returns to the farmers as last year they were paid between Sh 18 and Sh 23 per kilogramme by their respective tea factories" said Gakuya.
Macharia who represents tea farmers in Murang'a North said they hope next years bonus will be better owing to stabilization of the international tea market.
"We urge our farmers to put more efforts and produce more as the international market is offering better prices," said Macharia.
On development Macharia said tea factories located in Kiambu, Murang'a and Nyeri counties were working towards establishment of Gura and Metumi hydropower stations to help bring down cost of production.
The two power stations, he said are expected to be ready by November next year.