adminBlessing Rwizi
SIX tea farmers from Honde Valley recently toured Kenyan Tea Auction Floors and industries to learn from the Kenyan experience. The team was accompanied by three members from SNV and two members from the Eastern Highlands Plantation Limited (EHPL). SNV, which worked hand-in-glove with the Honde Valley Smallholder Development Company, that is part of the Danida funded Rural Agriculture Revitalisation Project (RARP), facilitated the tour which took place between October 26 and 31.
The team visited the tea auction floors and farmers in Nairobi where they learnt better methods of tea production as well as the importance of tea among others.
Davison Samuneta, one of the farmers who went on the tour said they were now looking forward to the improvement of their tea starting from this year, following what they have learnt in Kenya.
“We realised tea is more important than we thought. There is a better economy in Kenya as a result of tea growing and we managed to learn a lot of things that can bring our society to an advanced stage if taken seriously.
“However, we learnt how to deal with weather reports as we do our farming. This was among other factors like working in groups, record keeping working hand in hand with Agritex officers and holding workshops as farmers. We are therefore looking forward to an increase in our tea production starting from this year,” said Samuneta.
Mr Cloffas Nyagumbo, SNV horticulture team leader who went to Kenya with the farmers said the tour left the farmers at an advanced stage which should benefit them and future generations if the ideas learnt in the Kenyan tea industries are put to good use.
“The Kenyan tour was an eye opener to Honde Valley farmers who can see great changes in their industry if they put to good use what they learnt in Kenya. This shall benefit them and generations to come,” said Mr Nyagumbo.
SNV and other organisations are there to facilitate the commercialisation of smallholder agriculture in Zimbabwe with a view to promote improved household incomes, employment, food and nutritional security.
Kenya has the best tea produce in Africa and is ranked second worldwide in quality tea production. Tea is also central to Kenya’s economy as it produces a substantial amount of tea for the world market. It also contributes 70 percent to the country’s economy.
Online Reporter