Tea farmers in Meilu County opposed the introduction of picking machines, saying that these gadgets would affect the quality of green leaves and reduce their income.
Some smallholder farmers say that using machines to pick tea will reduce their income because the tea does not meet the required standards and therefore deprive them of the quality they have enjoyed for decades.
For the tea sold at the Mombasa auction, the fee paid to each factory is based on quality, and the price of the premium tea is higher.
At present, many companies in this area have carried out demonstrations on the use of plucking machines on farms.
Mr. Gideon Mutwiri, a farmer from Imenti South, said that for many years, the quality of tea sold by Imenti Tea Factory at Mombasa auctions has been in a leading position, but he is worried that the use of machinery will reduce the quality.
“This machine is cost-effective because a small tool can do the work of about 20 people, but for small-scale farmers, they will be bad for us,” he said.
He said that small farm farmers who work with their immediate family members will be hit hardest because their income will be meager because of low yields and low quality.
He added: “Farmers will use these machines, but we ship the leaves to the same factory, which will affect our income.”
After reports that these gadgets were about to be launched, tea pickers also fell into panic.
Mr. Joshua Nyakaki, a tea picker, said that he could not imagine living without a job.
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"I came to Meru after Kericho, where I work, introduced the machine. Now they are following me here. I don't know where to go next," he said.
However, some of them are optimistic, saying they plan to buy their own machines and "catch up" to the competition.
"We will not let it lie down. We have organized a group and plan to buy one when they are introduced," said John Quinotti, one of the tea pickers.
He said that they work in groups of six, because the leaves need to be sorted at the collection center after picking.
"This machine is not perfect, because the factory insists on quality and requires that the green leaves must be sorted first to ensure that only one bud and two leaves enter the processing, and the machine will pick more leaves. We are sorting people so I think We will still keep our jobs," he said.
Read the original article about the country.
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