Calls grow to reopen direct tea sales for better returns

Tea farmers from the West of Rift are demanding an immediate audit of all licenses issued to private tea firms in the zone, to determine their green leaf capacity. Speaking after a meeting in Kisumu, KTDA vice chairman James Omweno said that the influx of private factories has led to widespread poaching of leaf, affecting the productive capacity of existing tea factories. The farmers also want the reinstatement of the direct sales system in order to secure better returns for farmers.