The county government of Bomet has distributed building materials worth Sh23 million to 139 tea buying centres across the county. Governor Hillary Barchok handed over the materials and said the government aims at having small-scale tea farmers from the region reaping maximum benefits from their produce given that the country relies heavily on agriculture.
“We need to need to cushion farmers against financial burdens. Most of them in the tea-growing areas of the county are still using makeshift structures in handling green leaf, something that has continued to affect the quality of made tea,” said Governor Barchok.
Materials distributed
Among the construction materials distributed were iron sheets, timber, paints, sand, ballast and cement. The support, the governor said, will reduce the costs incurred by farmers so that the little they get from their crop can be spent on family needs.
“An estimated 20% of post-harvest green leaf is lost since about 60% of the buying centres currently in use are incomplete to meet the standards required by tea factories. With such support, production as well as income will be greatly improved,” said the governor.
