Tea growers eye mini bonus at the end of the month

Tea growers in the Mount Kenya region have received a boost after the boards of factories approved a mini-bonus for the farmers.

The bonus slated to be paid alongside the March monthly payments is calculated at between Sh5 and Sh12 per kilogram processed for the factories in Murang'a and Kirinyaga counties.

The approval was endorsed last week as the boards from the regions met. Some will effect the payment of Sh25 per kilogramme of green leaf up from Sh21.

In Murang'a, factories in Gatanga, Kigumo and Kandara will pay uniformly at the rate of Sh12 per kilogramme, for the produce delivered and processed in the six factories in the period between July and December last year.

Ikumbi Factory Vice Chairperson Gerald Ngumba said the factory board endorsed paying the green leaf at Sh25 per kilogramme to match with the majority of the tea factories

"The information has been circulated to the farmers within our tea catchment in Kigumo sub-county," said Ngumba.

Ikumbi last year paid a mini bonus of Sh7 per kilogramme.

At Njunu tea factory, Vice Chairperson Maina Gathua said the decision to pay a mini bonus will impact growers positively.

"We appreciate paying the farmers Sh21 per kilogramme alongside the mini bonus," said Maina.

In Murang'a North Zone Two, Githambo farmers will be paid at the rate of Sh10, Kanyenya-ini Sh10, Gatunguru Sh6, and Kiru Sh6 per kilogramme of green leaf delivered for processing.

Chairperson to Ngere Tea Factory Prof Joseph Karanja said farmers will also get Sh4 per kilogramme of the produce they delivered in the last four months.

"We retained some money in November, December, January and February which will be disbursed alongside the March green leaf payment," said Karanja.

He said the board approved a mini bonus of Sh12 per kilogramme among other lucrative benefits.

Githambo factory chairperson Joseph Karanu said the growers will get a mini bonus at the rate of Sh10 per kilogramme of green leaf.