Banks in Kisii pledge to support tea farmers
Bankers in Kisii have pledged to support tea farmers by giving those who secured loans from the institutions more time to repay them following low tea bonus.
Branch managers, Robinson Mirieri (Equity), James Maganda (Kenya Commercial Bank) and Wakenya Pamoja Savings and Credit Cooperative society chief executive Isaac Omwenga urged the farmers to turn up at the institutions to renegotiate modalities of servicing the loans.
Speaking to People Daily separately, the bankers said tea farmers have been supporting the institutions and they will not abandon them because of the low pay.
Uproot tea bushes
“I assure farmers that the bank will support them. Therefore, I urge those with loans not to fear. The bank’s officers are ready to listen to them,” said Maganda.
Mirieri urged farmers not to be discouraged and uproot tea bushes, noting the bank is set to renegotiate with those with loans and refinance them boost tea production.
“I appeal to the tea farmers to increase the quality and quantity of tea so that it can compete with produce from other countries and fetch high prices and boost their earnings,” he said.
Omwenga said the sacco is ready to negotiate with those who secured loans. “Majority of the farmers are stil paying school fees. We will support them to repay the loans with ease,” he added.
