Tea Farmers in Uganda advocate for national Tea Policy
Tea growing regions in Uganda have been urged to engage stakeholders and Members of Parliament to accelerate the tea policy in order to improve on its quality at the international market.
While closing a one-day workshop organized by Solidaridad and Trust Africa; Advancing Equity and Inclusion for Women in Agriculture at Western Meredian hotel in Bushenyi town, Robert Mbabazi, the LC V chairman Rukiga district noted that tea policy is needed if they are to improve on quality assurance and equity in tea management.
During this Regional consultation on national tea policy, Mbabazi also appealed to women to emulate teamwork to ensure continuity of management of tea shambas at family levels than advocating for affirmative action.
Sheeba Rushoke Nyakaishiki, a tea farmer in Fort portal said that failure to have a tea policy like any other cash crop has created gaps between middlemen and farmers and this has led to attracting low prices at the international market compared to other countries in the region.
Julian Nyabuhara, a tea farmer in Kyamuhunga, also the newly appointed chairperson of the Women in Tea Uganda chapter noted women are paid less and left behind in tea leadership and they advocating for tea policy to ensure there is equity.
Uganda’s tea growing industry is dominated by men who compose 82.4% of the tea growers while only 17.6% of the tea growers are women.
