Yes You Can Uproot Tea: Bomet MP Encourages Farmers to Explore New Opportunities

Bomet County farmers have been urged to embrace crop diversification as a way of cushioning themselves from fluctuating tea prices and unstable market returns. Konoin Member of Parliament Brighton Yegon said it was time for the region to move beyond its heavy dependence on tea and explore other profitable ventures that could guarantee stable income.

Speaking during an interview on Emoo FM, Yegon encouraged farmers to consider high-value crops such as avocados, maize, and horticultural produce, all of which have demonstrated consistent demand locally and abroad. He emphasized that diversification was not a sign of failure but a strategic response to changing economic realities.

“Farmers should not feel bound by tradition. If tea no longer supports your livelihood, it is okay to explore new opportunities. Crops like avocados are doing very well, and maize farming remains a reliable source of income,” he said.

His remarks followed growing frustration among tea farmers across the Rift Valley, who continue to grapple with low prices despite years of commitment to the crop. 

Yegon noted that while tea remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s agricultural economy, overreliance on it exposes farmers to global market shocks that often reduce their earnings.

He pointed to the success of avocado farmers in Murang’a and Kisii counties, where diversification has led to improved living standards through export sales. According to him, Bomet farmers can achieve the same if they receive adequate training and institutional support.

“Diversifying your farm does not mean abandoning tea. It means making better use of your land and ensuring that even if one crop fails, the other sustains you. That is how we build resilience,” he said.

The MP appealed to county authorities and agricultural partners to introduce training programs, distribute quality seedlings, and strengthen cooperative marketing structures. He said that empowering farmers with the right information and tools would transform Bomet’s economy and make farming more rewarding.

Yegon concluded by reminding farmers that agricultural progress depends on adaptability. “Our grandparents planted tea because it worked for them. Our responsibility is to plant what works for us today,” he said.