Tea is among the top income earning agricultural products in Kenya, if not the highest. In Abothûgûchi West ward, Meru County, tea is only rivalled by dairy farming. The two run the engine of this agriculture dependent area.
The buying price Kilogram of Green tea is between Sh 14 -16 . And since this crop requires a fairly large track of land to be economic viable, the Farmers employ Pickers locally known as Ntûngi. These labourers are paid daily wages of Sh 10 per Kg of green tea picked. Tea picking is skill horned through practice and the more you pick, the higher your earnings. During rainy seasons some can pick up even 80 Kg per day.
The buying price Kilogram of Green tea is between Sh 14 -16 . And since this crop requires a fairly large track of land to be economic viable, the Farmers employ Pickers locally known as Ntûngi. These labourers are paid daily wages of Sh 10 per Kg of green tea picked. Tea picking is skill horned through practice and the more you pick, the higher your earnings. During rainy seasons some can pick up even 80 Kg per day.
However this very crucial service is largely unappreciated and down upon in spite of it being the central anchor on which billions of money are earned monthly and annually. Thousands of poor residents do this tedious work from Monday to Saturday, years on end to put food on the table and other basic needs. But on a bigger perspective they have nothing to show for it. The beneficiaries of this cash crop are the Estate owner/Farmer, processing factories and KTDA honchos in air conditions comfy offices in Nairobi. Oh, and the unscrupulous tea cartels in the name of brokers at the auction in Mombasa.
These holloi pollois have negligible say in affairs of tea. Their business is picking and delivering of tea to collection centres, have it weighed, return a receipt indicating the number of Kgs picked and get paid. The factory doesn't care who picked tea,theirs is collecting and processing. Wages and other favours due to the Picker are dependent on mercy of the Farmers. After all there isn't a labour union for tea estates workers.
It's my opinion that Ntûngi ought be recognized by the tea industry players and gain more benefits for their services. First, factories should take up the Payment of wages role. And make deductions from the farmer's monthly earnings. The wages per Kg be standardized. This will solve the petty contention by factories that they cannot raise prices per Kg because Pickers will demand more and Farmers cannot afford.
Second,for the above suggestion to function better all tea Pickers should be registered and have a Unique identifier call it a 'Picker Number'. Subsequently a digital card bearing important data be insured to the pickers. Every time tea is delivered, the clerk feeds in the
(i) Number of Kgs
(ii) Farmer's registration number
(iii) Collection center number
The factory will have an automated system that makes due wages payment to the Card Holder's Mobile Money Account instantly. Also printed Receipts for they Picker and Farmer be issued at the completion of sale for record keeping. At the end of the month and bonus time a complete statement of account be served to the two parties.
Thirdly, a majority of Pickers do not have a Health Insurance. Three to five Kgs can be deducted from the Pickers daily sum of tea delivered, to cater for NHIF. At Ksh 10 per Kg for 26 picking days in a month, that's 260. Since minimum NHIF cover cost is 500 per month ,the remainder be a Compulsory contribution by both Farmer and KTDA via the Factory. The remaining Kgs should be banked as savings of the Picker which can be accessed after a given period of time. It's from these savings that the Picker can acquire Financial Credit if he/she so wishes.
Fourthly, during tea bonuses period Pickers depend on generosity of Farmers to give them 'something small' as a token of appreciation. To truly cater for for Picker's welfare, the amount of deducted Kgs as savings throughout the year can be added and multiplied by Books Rate and issued to them as their Bonuses.
This is a worth endeavor that will greatly improve the welfare of Tea Pickers, boost their morale and give them their long overdue Appreciation and Recognition. It's also another new net for NHIF and banks.
It's my opinion that Ntûngi ought be recognized by the tea industry players and gain more benefits for their services. First, factories should take up the Payment of wages role. And make deductions from the farmer's monthly earnings. The wages per Kg be standardized. This will solve the petty contention by factories that they cannot raise prices per Kg because Pickers will demand more and Farmers cannot afford.
Second,for the above suggestion to function better all tea Pickers should be registered and have a Unique identifier call it a 'Picker Number'. Subsequently a digital card bearing important data be insured to the pickers. Every time tea is delivered, the clerk feeds in the
(i) Number of Kgs
(ii) Farmer's registration number
(iii) Collection center number
The factory will have an automated system that makes due wages payment to the Card Holder's Mobile Money Account instantly. Also printed Receipts for they Picker and Farmer be issued at the completion of sale for record keeping. At the end of the month and bonus time a complete statement of account be served to the two parties.
Thirdly, a majority of Pickers do not have a Health Insurance. Three to five Kgs can be deducted from the Pickers daily sum of tea delivered, to cater for NHIF. At Ksh 10 per Kg for 26 picking days in a month, that's 260. Since minimum NHIF cover cost is 500 per month ,the remainder be a Compulsory contribution by both Farmer and KTDA via the Factory. The remaining Kgs should be banked as savings of the Picker which can be accessed after a given period of time. It's from these savings that the Picker can acquire Financial Credit if he/she so wishes.
Fourthly, during tea bonuses period Pickers depend on generosity of Farmers to give them 'something small' as a token of appreciation. To truly cater for for Picker's welfare, the amount of deducted Kgs as savings throughout the year can be added and multiplied by Books Rate and issued to them as their Bonuses.
This is a worth endeavor that will greatly improve the welfare of Tea Pickers, boost their morale and give them their long overdue Appreciation and Recognition. It's also another new net for NHIF and banks.
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