Kenya tea farmers worry over delayed delivery of 23,000 tonnes of imported fertilizer

Tea farmers in Central Kenya are complaining about a delay in the supply of fertilizer meant for top dressing.

The small scale farmers have been waiting for shipment of the fertilizer meant to boost next season’s crop.

This has caused worries among the tea farmers allied to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), who fear the hitch will cause reduction of quality in this season’s product.

KTDA operations manager Mr. Arthur Rimberia, however, said that the delay was occasioned by the large quantity of fertilizer that was being shipped into the country.

“We are bringing the fertilizer in three shipments since we can not handle transportation needs for the large quantity of about 23,000 metric tonnes needed,” he said. He said that two consignments had already arrived in the country, leaving only one which will be delivered to farmers as soon as it arrives.

Due to the large quantities involved, KTDA uses ships to bring in the fertilizer from export countries.

Small scale tea farmers allied to KTDA usually book their fertilizer orders through agricultural officers at their tea factories.

Orders are then taken to the KTDA logistics officer in Nairobi and are all then compiled. The total amount is then ordered together directly from the country of origin and later redistributed to farmers according to the quantities they ordered. Farmers are later deducted from the tea they deliver to the factory according to the quantity of fertilizer they used.

Business Daily Africa