President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised to pay Tea Nursery Operators have been demand billions of money from government for the seedlings they supplied to farmers since 2017.
President Museveni made the assurance August 19th while in a meeting called specifically for the Tea Industry stakeholders from Tea growing Districts which took place at Bushenyi main playground.
The Tea Nursery Operators have been demanding billions of money from the Government through NAADs that commissioned them to prepare the nursery beds which were procured and distributed to farmers in different districts.
The President took time to listen to Tea growers, processors, Nursery Tea Operators, Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries and other political leaders.
The President who listened attentively Museveni to several speakers, was seen concerned about the challenges faced by the tea industry stakeholders and pledged to step in and solve them.
While responding to what tea industry stakeholders raised like the issue of fertilizer, tea market, high electricity tariffs, Tea Nursery operators arrears, tea proccessors demanding government support and tea regulation policy, President Museveni noted the concerns and pledged to help them.
President Museveni said that Tea sector is a production one and it’s imperative for government to support it because it resultantly improves the economy of Uganda.
President Museveni promised to create a fund for fertilizers, subsidize electricity tariff and diesel for tea factories, support Tea processors and engage presidents of countries that buy Uganda’s tea to dialogue on any tea trade barrier.
“After engaging with tea growers in Bushenyi, I suggested they research whether to shift from extensive to intensive tea farming. Regarding fertilisers, we shall find solutions. For financing and debt repayments for growers, processors, factories, and nurseries, we plan to allocate around Ugx 300 billion,” President Museveni said.
On the issue of Tea Regulation Policy, the Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon Frank Tumwebaze, assured President Museveni that Tea regulation policy is under pipeline pending consultation from Attorney General and thereafter to be subjected under Cabinet review and later to Parliament for approval.
On the issue of the road infrastructure, President Museveni promised to increase money for District Roads from Ugx 1 billion to Ugx 2 billions and rechoed on imploring districts to use that money to maintain existing roads but not opening new roads and working on bridges.
“We shall also address electricity concerns and provide tax-free diesel temporarily. The Agriculture Ministry will ensure that growers cultivate properly and buyers purchase quality tea. Additionally, Local governments will receive Ugx 2 billion for improved road infrastructure,” He said.
This was after Tea industry stakeholders told the President that poor roads within the tea growing areas also compromise tea quality since tea green leaf must arrive to Tea Factory in short period .
It was agreed that tea can be grown by people who have enough land and be used for industrial uses that can make Uganda’s tea fetch high prices, on which point the President implored them to do and promised total support from the government.
“From the outset of tea farming, I have always advised small landowners against participation. Crops like tea, cotton, maize and sugarcane require significant land and resources to be profitable. Small-scale farmers must consider their land use carefully” The President emphasizes.
The high level meeting was also attended by the Security Teams, Resident District Commissioners, LC 5 Chairpersons and Chief Administrative Officers from the Tea Growing Districts.
