(3 minutes read)
· The Tea Development Agency Management Services (KTDA MS) has suspended the importation of fertilizer for tea farmers having small holdings for the year 2020 due to supply disruptions.
· KTDA MS imports normally fertilizers for 600,000 small tea farms during October/November of every year by pooling their requirements.
· This bulk purchases help tea farmers to benefit from economies of scale, competitive prices and deliveries right at their
tea buying centres.
The Tea Development Agency Management Services (KTDA MS) has suspended the importation of fertilizer for tea farmers having small holdings
for the year 2020 due to supply disruptions.
KTDA MS imports normally fertilizers for 600,000 small tea farms during October/November of every year by pooling their requirements.
This bulk purchases help tea farmers to benefit from economies of scale, competitive prices and deliveries right at their tea buying
centres. According to expert opinion, even if fertilizer application is skipped for one year, tea plants will not get affected. However, KTDA is seeking expert advice from the Tea Research Institute on the effects on tea productivity..
Farmers are now advised to source fertilizer from the government-approved commercial suppliers with tea fertilizer stocks. Tea farmers affiliated to KTDA managed factories would receive Kshs 649 million this month from their tea factories as dividends for the financial year ending June 30, 2019.