Tea farming in Nyamira is set to be revitalised after the County Governor signed a memorandum of friendship and cooperation with Songyang County in Zhejiang Province of China.
Governor Nyaribo noted that Songyang County in China grows tea just like Nyamira County to sustain people’s livelihoods, and since they are highly advanced in farming techniques and processing technologies, Nyamira has decided to partner with them so they could assist the county in improving on its team farming techniques to boost production and rake in more profits.
“Songyang County in China is greatly advanced in technology in their tea farming venture and highly mechanised in tea processing, giving them an advantage in the tea auction markets where they make more profits, unlike us, who have stuck with the same traditional farming methods yet our climate zones are relatively similar,” the governor observed.
“It’s against this backdrop that we saw the need to form a partnership with them so that they mentor, train, and impart the best modern tea farming practices to farmers in our county to reclaim and sustain our past bountiful tea yields,” he explained.
Nyaribo promised that officers from the Department of Agriculture would take the guests from Songyang County round to tour our tea farms within Nyamira and processing factories to have a true picture on what we are doing and reliably advice on the best approach which would improve tea farming and thereby boost yields in this region for our friendship to be meaningful.
The Minister in Charge of Protocol from the County of Songyang, China, Mr. Li Wei, who is also the team leader of the delegation from China, said they were excited to be in Nyamira and more than ready to collabourate with officers from the Department of Agriculture in boosting production so that they too could equally enjoy the fruits of their labour in tea farming.
“The cool climate and natural ambience filled with green tea in this county is fascinating and just good to look at and be around. Our friendship and cooperation for mutual benefits will strengthen our relationship for the growth of Nyamira and Songyang counties in Kenya and China, respectively,” Wei commented.
The memorandum of friendship and cooperation signed by Governor Nyaribo and Minister from China Mr. Li Wei is expected to promote exchanges and cooperation in the field of tea farming to achieve a synergy of joint development.
The two parties will cooperate to mutually train on eco-friendly tea cultivation to improve tea production and standardise processing technologies, including further exchange of technical personnel in the field through mutual learning.
The mutual friendship will enable the two countries to share information on tea culture, market trends, and situations and promote bilateral trade in tea for mutual and complimentary benefits for the developments of both countries.
Tea farming was and still is the main source of livelihood for most residents in Nyamira though in the recent past, but proceeds from this venture have nosedived to worryingly low levels.
Nyamira County is doing its best through partnerships and cooperation, including with other countries, to reclaim reduced yields in tea and rejuvenate the already dwindled profits to give hope to vulnerable households who solely depend on tea farming to eke out a living.
By Deborah Bochere
