6 Things That Makes the Tea Bill an Early Christmas Gift to Farmers

 

Small-scale tea farms in Gatanga, Murang'a County. (Photo/254 NewsDay)

The Senate has this afternoon been debating on the Tea Bill sponsored by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, after the National Assembly passed it on December 2, but with amendments.

Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka recalled the senators from their Christmas break for a special sitting in order to debate on the bill, something that underscores the importance and urgency to save the tea sector from the near total collapse.

This comes even as the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) and East Africa Tea Traders Association (EATTA) are in court seeking to quash the proposed reforms. 

Tea farmers have, however, supported the bill which will leave cartels at KTDA and EATTA running dry as billions of shillings are taken away from them and given to the rightful owners, farmers.

Here are SIX things to look forward to, once the Tea Bill is assented into law:

1. Tea brokers, buyers and auction organisers will have to ensure that proceeds from the sale of tea is paid within 14 days. 

2. Factories will be required to pay 50 per cent of receipt of sales to farmers with the balance being paid at the end of every financial year. 

3. The tea money will be controlled at the factory level meaning that Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) which has been holding billions of shillings from tea sales for a year, will no longer have access to it.

4. The law empowers the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary to prescribe regulations for the registration of management agents, such as KTDA, and the appeal process. 

5. The Agriculture CS will also have powers to prescribe regulations for the tea auction, something that has been bitterly opposed by the sole tea auctioneer, East African Tea Trade Association.

6. The law also requires for the establishment of an electronic trading platform accessible to farmers and other players in the tea value chain to ensure transparency.