By Sophan Niwamanya
apearlnews.com
Tea Nursery Bed Operators have requested the government have a tea policy that will ensure the high quality of tea and its products.
The call was made by the Chairman of Kigezi Region Tea Nursery Bed Operators, Frank Byarugaba, while speaking at the meeting of South-Kigezi-Ankole Tea Nursery Bed Operators held today in Rukungiri District Council Hall.
Byaruhanga said that such a policy will enable Ugandan tea to compete favourably in the international market and will make it possible for the government to collect improved revenue.
Citing examples of countries like Rwanda that have a tea policy in place, Byarugaba said that such countries don’t experience price fluctuations for tea and its products.
The secretary for Kigezi Nursery Bed Operators, Caleb Kipande, said a tea policy will address issues like production, transportation, processing, and marketing, which are all challenges faced by farmers.
Kipande further said that to widen the tea, all the above issues must be swiftly tackled.
One of the tea nursery bed operators from Mbarara District, Henry Tumanyane, said a tea policy is a necessity for everyone who is in the business of tea.
He also said a tea policy can help farmers get loans and plant more tea, which in turn benefits the government.
