Africa-Press – Kenya. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the government will implement the Tea Act 2020 on Monday to help farmers as they seek amendments to the Act.
He said the previous regime was not keen to implement the Tea Reforms Act.
“From Monday we shall implement the Tea Act 2020 that is presently enforced, we shall ignore those who are against it. The Act will be implemented as it is even when we continue to seek amendments,” he said.
He said the government will ensure 100 per cent compliance with the law when enforcing the Act.
Gachagua added that the move is in line with Bottom Up Economic Agenda and urged tea farmers to come out and speak on the challenges they face so that they can be addressed.
The DP spoke on Thursday during the national tea conference in Kericho.
The Tea Act of 2020 aims to reform and improve returns to small-scale farmers.
According to the Act, small-scale tea growers and medium-scale tea growers must register with the tea factory to which the respective tea growers deliver a green leaf or a purple leaf using the prescribed form.
The Act also says every factory must keep a register for small-scale farmers for statistical purposes.
The register must specify the name of the small-scale tea grower and medium-scale tea grower; the location, size and parcel number of the land on which the tea is grown; the net weight in kilograms of green leaf delivered and the amount paid annually.
The register should also have a variety of tea grown.
The Act says a person will not sell or offer for sale green leaf unless the person is registered with a tea factory in accordance with the law.
A tea factory will only buy green leaves from its registered tea growers.
A small-scale tea grower or medium-scale tea grower will not sell green leaves to any person other than the tea factory where they are registered.
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