TEA AGM

TEA AGM
JANE MUGAMBI
Farmers who are under Mununga Tea Factory in Kirinyaga County have received a bonus increase of 39.95.
The 8,000 farmers who attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM)heard that the bonus increased from 32.5 to 39.95 which according to the Director Munene Mugo, could have been much were it not for the frost bite that caused the decrease of the growth.
Mugo said that the weather affected 21,633,914 leaf growth causing the dropping of leaf collection and that of leaf growth from January to April last year at a 0.01%.
The Director said that the production of tea has gone down due to the erratic climate adding that the company is trying its level best to see that farmer’s effort is recognized by the increased prices.
“The weather has been erratic that it has affected the production of tea in Mununga but the efforts of the farmers are going to be felt by the increase of the prices which is from 32.50 to 39.95”added Munene.
He said that the company also has plans to cut down the cost of electricity where a mini power plant is being constructed along Nyamindi river at a cost of 800M which is expected to give 500Kilowarts which is going to serve six factories Kangaita, Mununga, Ndima, Thumaita, Ragati and Kimunye that are in the county.
He said that the plan was to reduce the 50M power cost that is paid per year to the Kenya power splitting it to 3M per month for effective production citing that when there is power rationing, the factories are much affected since there is no production that is done.
He said that before the power plant is completed the company is using wood that has been planted on its 234 acres at Siakago a project that expected to ensure steady supply of fuel wood in the long-term reducing the fuel costs saying that they are planning to expand to 700 acres to be self sustaining.
Munene also added that the production has fastened as there is enough fuel (wood) to fasten the processing.
He also said that Mununga is the first tea Company in Kenya to have an environmental water waste management using biological process after a long fight with NEMA on waste management.
“We have been able to use biological process to purify the waste water after along fight with NEMA” added the Director.
ENDS……………..
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