KAYANZA, October 24th (ABP) – Tea growers from different districts in Kayanza province (north) say the price of green tea leaves is ridiculous considering the means they spend from maintaining tea orchards to harvesting. They specify that by subtracting all expenses, they are left with only about BIF 150 a kg. to that end, they ask the competent authorities to focus on this issue in order to encourage tea growers as well as labor force.
According to Mr. Jérémie Rwigema, representative of tea growers in the Rwegura County, Muruta district, even an avocado costs more than BIF 1000 while tea that is exported abroad costs less than BIF 500 per kilo.
According to him, tea is an industrial crop that generates foreign currency and should allow the growers to develop. However, he deplores that BIF 350 per kilogram of tea leaves does not correspond with the reality of current life.
He calls on the competent authorities to look into it to encourage tea growers as well as the workforce by raising the price of tea leaves. They propose to increase this price up to BIF 1000 per kilogram.