adminThe Rhodesia Herald,
April 28, 1980
“CONFIDENT and looking forward to a great expansion in the future”, was the way Mr John King, works manager of a leading tea packing and food processing plant in Umtali, described his company’s prospects in the new independent Zimbabwe.
During an interview last week, Mr King stressed that an active works liaison committee comprising workers and management representatives, ensured good communication “and excellent labour relations”.
In the past the plant had been geared towards “white orientated products” but now that pattern was changing to low volume economy packs for the lower income group and large-scale catering ones for the reviving tourist industry.
The Government’s decision to remove sales tax on tea had been welcomed by the growing and packing industry since it would stimulate sales.
All the tea packed at Tanrose factory is grown on the Tanganda Estates in Chipinga.
“We recently launched what we call ‘low mass pack – 15gms of quality tea or coffee for people who either cannot afford or do not need quantity and these are proving extremely popular.”
In the modern plant the bulk of tea is packed by hand.
“We could mechanise, and economics may force us to do so in future, but in the meantime we are providing work for the local people.”
An adjacent building houses the tea blend control room where the taster, Mr Joshua Sithole (28), monitors the quality of all incoming tea and coffee.
Mr Sithole, whose home is in Chipinga, has become an expert at his job in the seven years he has been with the company.
After receiving samples from the growing estates, he must decide whether to accept or reject the consignment.
“Then we blend, taking into consideration price and quality together with volume. Generally, we use four different grades of tea in our packs.”
Not only does Mr Sithole taste tea every day at work but said he “likes to drink tea too”. He is anxious to see the plant “open up new markets”.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Tea is a very important cash crops and in most countries, including Zimbabwe, it plays a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security.
It is a principal source of livelihood for millions of smallholder producers.
In Zimbabwe tea is grown in Chipinge and Honde Valley districts, Manicaland Province, where annual rainfall is about 1 300 millimetres under normal rain seasons and the altitude in the districts ranges from 600 -1100 metres above sea level, which is ideal for growth and quality of tea.
The country’s tea production is expected to reach 26 300 tonnes by 2026, up slightly from 26 000 tonnes in 2021.
Online Reporter