Tea growers association in Mbeya devoted to buy processing factory
Tue Jul 22, 2014
Rungwe Smallholders Tea Growers Association (RSTGA) in Tukuyu District, Mbeya Region is planning on purchasing all shares of Wakulima Tea Company Ltd so as to ensure that they have their own tea processing factory.
RSTGA is a stakeholder in Wakulima Tea Company Ltd owning 30 percent of the shares while Tanzanian Tea Packers (TATEPA) owns 70 percent of the tea processing factory.
Wakulima Tea Company Ltd owns two tea-processing factories in Katumba and Mwakaleli, both in Rungwe district in Mbeya region whereas the one in Katumba has been revised and is in full operation while the one in Mwakaleli is currently closed.
Speaking in an interview after Korogwe district leaders paid a visit to small scale farmers in Rungwe district, RSTGA Chairman, Johnson Mwakasege said although their association has only 30 percent of all the shares, they expect to add 19 more shares within a very short time.
“We want to increase our shares up to 49 shares so that our partners are only left with 51 shares. We believe once we own all of the shares, our goal will be achieved,” he said.
“We are now dealing with agricultural expansion of tea industry in Rungwe district by emphasizing on the application of modern methods of agriculture in order to improve production and farmers’ income,” he added.
The chairman pointed out that RSTGA is working closely with the Tea Research Institute of Tanzania (TRIT) to train smallholder farmers on the best farming practices so as to improve production and quality.
“We thank TRIT for supporting our farmers because we are now increasing production of the green leaves, with this support we are sure that our goal to buy all shares of the factory will be achieved,” he said.
He insisted that RSTGA will continue to collect statistical data and information from various sources in respect of tea production and disseminate it to farmers.
On May 12, 1998 RSTGA was incorporated as a Non – Governmental and Non Profit Making Organization (NGO) under Tanzania Societies ordinance of 1954, and latter registered under the new Non-Governmental Organization Act, 2002 with Certificate of Compliance No. 1804. It currently has approximately 13,000 members.
RSTGA is a joint effort of 15,000 tea growing smallholder farmers whereby every member of the organization is a shareholder in the TRUST. As a membership fee, farmers pay 3/= per kilogram of green leaves they produce.
Currently tea is grown on 3,000 hectares but RSTGA aims to reach 5,000 hectares.
Speaking after visiting Rungwe small scale farmers’ farms, Korogwe District Commissioner, Mrisho Gambo said: “When I return to Korogwe I will strictly advise small scale farmers to implement all good things that make Rungwe farmers advance… and eventually have their own tea factory.”
Wakulima Tea Company Ltd Assistant Director, Robert Shedafa said the factory is now increasing efforts to provide more fertilizers and other support to small scale farmer to ensure they get more yields.
Speaking of challenges, Shedafa said poor infrastructures such as roads make it difficult for them to reach farmers in rural areas especially during rainy seasons.
“During rainy seasons green leaves from remote areas arrive here very late which makes it hard for us and sometimes become a loss to the company,” he said.
He also complained about foul play by some companies (names withheld) which don’t have licenses to buy tea but go to the farmers and buy the tea illegally.
SOURCE: IPPMEDIA
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