New tea picking gadget to save farmers money

Farmer John Tanui uses a motor-driven tea leaf picker at his farm in Kosirai, Chesumei constituency in Nandi County. He says the machine is more effective than old-age manual picking using hands. [Titus Too/ Standard]

A new innovation in the tea industry promises farmers low production costs, high yields and quality produce.

M-Chai is a portable motor-driven tea-leaf picker that weighs 1.5kg and has a detached battery and carrier bag that also weighs 1.5kg. The gadget is being rolled out gradually in tea growing zones after a two-year research.