Former Cherang’any MP Wesley Korir has urged Kapsara tea farmers to improve the quality of their produce and target international markets as the government rolls out a Sh44.6 million modernisation programme at Kapsara Tea Factory.
Korir said the government investment should go hand in hand with improved tea quality, better farming practices and an aggressive marketing strategy to increase farmers’ earnings.
“You should stop relying solely on local markets and position Kapsara tea for export,” Korir told farmers at the factory.
He urged tea farmers and pickers to adopt proper tea-picking practices, saying high-quality produce would be critical to helping Kapsara tea compete in international markets.
Korir also called for closer collaboration among farmers, factory managers and other stakeholders to improve the quality of green leaf delivered to the factory and secure better-paying markets.
The former MP said he had already initiated efforts to boost agricultural production in Cherang’any, including the distribution of more than 250,000 coffee seedlings to farmers.
“Similar efforts will be extended to tea and coffee farmers as part of a broader strategy to increase household incomes,” he said.
Korir said investments in agricultural infrastructure should ultimately translate into higher earnings for farmers rather than simply expanding production capacity.
His remarks came after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced a Sh44.6 million government grant to modernise Kapsara Tea Factory.
The funds will finance the installation of a modern withering plant to replace ageing equipment, improve tea-processing efficiency and reduce production costs.
Korir said the modernisation would give Kapsara Tea Factory an opportunity to strengthen its position in the tea industry. However, he cautioned that modern equipment alone would not guarantee better returns unless farmers and the factory maintained high production standards.
He challenged local leaders and farmers to support initiatives that improve agricultural productivity, expand tea markets and increase household incomes in Cherang’any.
