AllAfrica.com – Washington, USA
The Nation (Nairobi)
Two cabinet ministers yesterday launched the harvesting of the first tea crop in Trans Mara District, and urged the mainly pastoralist community to embrace the cash crop.
Regional development minister Mohamed Abdi Mohamud officially launched tea picking, in a unique venture by the Maasai community at Keiyan Group Ranch.
Ewaso Ngiro South Development Authority (ENSDA) inaugurated the growing of tea in the area in 2005 and so far over 600 acres of land are under tea bushes.
Currently, 46 growers deliver their tea to various factories in Kisii South District.
Immigration minister Gideon Kochella and Ewaso Ngiro South Development Authority managing director Francis Nkako accompanied Mr Mohamud during the launch at Keiyan Group Ranch.
Start growing
They asked the community to diversify and start growing tea as a way of addressing poverty.
“We should not rely only on maize, sugar cane, and wildlife.
We should diversify to tea because research shows that more than 50,000 acres of land are potential for tea growing,” Mr Konchella said.
Mr Mohamud asked the ENSDA to do a visibility study on the viability of a tea factory in the area.
“If you find that a factory is viable, we shall approach an investor to construct one here,” he added.
The ENSDA introduced tea in the district to improve security, create employment and to act as a buffer zone between Gucha and Kisii District.
