Story by NATION Reporter
The Ewaso Ngiro South Development Authority requires Sh50 million to expand the growing of tea in Trans Mara and Narok districts. There has been an overwhelming demand for tea by the pastoralist Maasai community, said the authority’s managing director Francis Nkako.
Mr Nkako was briefing Agriculture minister Kipruto Kirwa, during a tour of tea growing areas in Trans Mara District. Mr Nkako, who was accompanied by the Authority’s tea development officer Ndiwa ole Maasai, said the organisation plans to develop eight tea nurseries in the districts. The nurseries will be established in Pirrar, Kilgoris, Keiyan in Trans Mara and Mau, Tendwet, and Olpusmoru, to meet the growing demand for tea in the area. It also wants to establish tree nurseries to provide fast growing trees for wood fuel development. “There is an overwhelming demand for tea seedlings now that it is evident tea can do well here,” he added.
Mr Maasai said they had introduced clones that are suitable for the area, and which take less than one year to mature and are drought resistant. Area DC John Chege said the Maasai were slowly doing away with the animal culture and were embracing agriculture.
Mr Kirwa who was accompanied by his immigrations counterpart Gideon Konchella donated Sh2.5 million for tea growers in the area.
He was told that the Sh5 per tea seedling was too expensive for the locals and Mr Konchella asked the Government to subside to Sh2.50. Already, there are 631 acres under tea in Trans Mara District. The upper zone of the district has a potential catchment area of 25, 000 hectares whose soils have been certified as suitable for tea growing.
