Musalia Mudavadi calls for agency agreement review between tea factories and KTDA

Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi has asked tea factories to review agency agreement with Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA)

Speaking during a press conference at a Kericho hotel, Mudavadi pointed out that as the minister for Agriculture in 1998, the ministry reformed the tea industry and transferred the ownership of KTDA to farmers and it became a management agency owned by farmers.

He nonetheless said KTDA's heavy management fee and bloated staff, without delivering effective service was eating into farmers’ earnings.

"KTDA is behaving more and more as a private entity than a public agency owned by farmers. The role of KTDA is clear: to manufacture and market Kenya farmers' tea. The agency must change its attitude: it has a mandate and responsibility to shop for markets that earn farmers more whether in times of scarcity or plenty," said Mudavadi

He also expressed concern about KTDA’s recent remarks that high yields due to the continuing heavy rains will lead to a glut in the international markets therefore resulting in poor earnings for farmers.

"This is a strange excuse that has been played over and over by KTDA. The more farmers produce, the less they earn. We must change this mentality where greater input earns less. KTDA is confessing incompetence," said Mudavadi.

He also decried the deplorable tea workers working conditions.