Nyabihu Tea farmers this week met to celebrate the achievements in 2015, mainly the increased harvest and good prices for their produce, to which they attribute their improved welfare. The celebrations were held at Nyabihu Tea Factory, attracting farmers, district officials, and security personnel among others. Speaking at the event, some farmers said that they had been practising tea growing for long, but said that it was only now that they have started getting benefits. They attribute the increased production to adoption of modern practices like use of fertilisation and other techniques which has also made their tea more competitive on the international market, hence leading to better prices. “Because of the improved practices, I now earn over 25,000 francs per month from tea and this is due to the increase from 15 francs to more than 130 francs per kilogramme at the local market,” said Pierre Celestin Mvuyekure, a farmer from Rambura sector in Nyabihu. Mvuyekure further said that the increased price has enabled him to satisfy the basic needs of his family. Jean Damascene Garasabwe, the director-general of Nyabihu Tea Factory said the increase in quantity and quality is a result of close collaboration between the factory, and farmers. He said that because of this collaboration, his company emerged among the top three in the country, which has made their product competitive on the global market. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
