Boost to tea farmers as UN lifts Iran ban

Kenya tea farmers have everything to smile about after the United Nations (UN) Security Council withdrawal of sanctions against Iran, the largest market for the produce.
The sanctions were imposed 10 years ago as Iran was accused of advancing in nuclear weapon production against the Council.
Since then, Kenya lost its largest tea market leaving the produce at the mercy of brokers.
The sanctions were lifted by the Security Council early this year following an agreement between Iran and Council to have the weapons destroyed.
According to the Zone Five Director of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Jefitha Karua the tea trade between the two countries has been dead for a whole decade.
Karua said following the sections Iran could not engage in any trade or transactions with the West allied nations since it could not access the Dollar, which is the main global standard trade currency.
Karua said the trade between the two nations is expected to be normalised and resume for the benefit of the tea farmers.
''The resumption of the trade between Iran and Kenya is good news for the farmers since this was our largest tea market for the commodity,'' Karua said.