Kenya: Tobacco Firm to Pay Sh80 Million to Farmers Next Week

Source from:  Daily Nation on the Web 12/06/2011

Mastermind Tobacco Kenya will settle Sh80 million arrears of their contracted farmers in Nyanza before the markets open next week. Mr Josh Kirimania, the company's human resource and corporate affairs manager, said they were already working on logistics to dispatch the cash. "I know our farmers in Migori, Kuria West and Kuria East Districts are very angry but we are going to make sure they get paid before we buy their leaf," he said. The growers have been holding demonstrations to press MTK to pay the leaf delivery arrears but nothing positive has been coming from the firm's headquarters in Nairobi. "We ask them to be patient for just a few days as we sort out the problem," said Mr Kirimania. At the same time, tobacco farmers want leaf prices reviewed upwards due to the increased cost of living and farm inputs such as fertilisers. They said one kilogramme of the highest grade should attract between Sh180 to Sh200 instead of the current Sh120. The Kenya Tobacco Farmers Association chief executive Joseph Wanguhu told BAT Kenya, Alliance One and Mastermind Tobacco to increase the leaf prices ahead of the opening of markets. Enditem