FROST BITE

FROST BITE.

JANE MUGAMBI 22nd FEB 2011.

MUNUNGA tea factory is loosing over 4million shillings following frost bite that has burnt over 100 acres of tea stems in Kirinyaga County.

The frost bite has affected Mukonyo, Gikumbo where farmers are watching helpless as their tea leaves dry due to the frost bite.

According to Muriithi Gituri a farmer and also a village elder, they woke up on Sunday and found out that over 50 acres had all their tea leaves burnt.

HE said that the effect is going to be felt as the sunshine continues.

Mr.Gituri said that they first experienced such climate six years ago when 1000 acres were affected.

He added that farmers are counting losses after they failed to deliver their tea leaves to their respective tea collection centers citing that they will loose over 4 million in three months.

He added that the effect is going to be very heavy citing that since tea picking is the main activity in the area, they are going to be forced to walk far distances to look for jobs.

Mr.Gituri added that the small tea leaves that are growing are very unhealthy and very weak for sale saying that it is scattered.

Mununga Tea factory Field Service Coordinator Joseph Mithamo said that they have accessed the area and seen that there is no tea that is going to be collected from the area since there is nothing and that the growing tea leaves will produce poor tea quality.

He added that they are going to assist some farmers where the damage is not extensive by hiring workers to help them pick before the frost bite spreads.

He said that some areas have been damaged extensively sending fears that they will be forced to either close the company temporarily or seek assistance from their sister factories to help them produce the tea.

Mr. Mithamo went on to say that they are loosing 45,000/- per day an amount that is going to be felt for the next three months.

He added that if the sun continues to shine, then the frost will continue destroying the crop until when the rain will fall.

He also added that they have liaised with banks to reschedule loan payment for over 250 farmers.

HE said that they are going to hold several meetings with the farmers to avert a similar problem in the future.

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