Mambila tea farmers lament over Price

Dr Abinbola Ogunwusi, Presenting seed to Adam Danjuma Buba, Representative Mambila tea farmers

*Pleads for more investment @RMRDC

The Association of the Mambila Tea Famers from the Sardauna local government area of Taraba has lamented what it called ridiculous prices at which tea is bought saying this might deter its production if something positive is not done by Mambilla Beverage Limited.

The tea farmers’ group which spoke through its representative, Adam Danjuma Buba during the presentation ceremony of coffee and tea seedlings to the National Coffee &Tea Association of Nigeria by the  Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) said it was high time the price paid for 1kg of raw tea be reviewed by the processing company from its present  N26, which when processed and packaged is sold for N750 adding that it is necessary that preventive be taken so that farmers would not feel cheated and discouraged.

The  Association expressed concern over lesser hectares being used for production  out of the plenty land availability  saying there is need for  expansion towards more cultivation for higher earnings, saying that “ for the production of tea, only about 1,930 hectares are being put to use by both government, private companies as well as small scale tea farmers”

 Mr. Buba while calling on more investors into tea production with high economic potential of 2billion dollar per annual said that “Mambila Plateau has a height altitude of 200 feet above sea level and have over 50,000 hectares of land for tea production alone and a hectare of land alone can give you between 2,500 to 3,500 kilogram green leaves which translates to about 625 to 100 kilogram of processed tea under normal and good plantation as well as manufacturing process”.

 He noted that countries like China, India, Kenya and Sri Lanka have used the tea production aspect of agriculture to boost their economies saying “we have the land, the soil texture is good enough and all we need is to open up the place and once that is done, the economy will be better and jobs will be created and the rest becomes history”

The association spokesman also linked the health implications to one of the reasons why tea is the second most consumed beverage on the planet. Tea consumption has been linked to numerous health benefits. A hot cup of tea not only relaxes the body but it helps prevent a wide range of ailments listed below. 

Improving heart health: This is one of the biggest reasons. Daily consumption of at least 3 cups of tea is said to reduce the risk of heart attacks by 11 per cent. On top of that, it has more heart-healthy benefits. For example, black tea also helps lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Green tea has similar effect and many studies also suggest that green tea helps prevent atherosclerosis.

It helps in the prevention of cancer: Studies have shown that if you drink a lot of tea (green and white tea in particular) you are less likely to get cancer. If you drink about four cups of tea a day you are up to 60% less likely to develop cancer, thanks to the antioxidants in tea leaves. While green tea contains polyphenols, a substance which is thought to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, white tea contains some antioxidants which have been found to help prevent lung, colon and skin cancers.

It aids weight loss: Weight loss is an issue for a majority of people but it is rather interesting to find that drinking a few cups of green tea, say 4-6 cups daily (without sugar or cream) can have a really good effect on your waistline. Studies have found that green tea extract can boost metabolism to help the body burn fat. This is thought to be a result of substances called catechins, which are found in the tea. 

It helps in the prevention and treatment of diabetes: Because it can be used to control blood sugar, green tea has been used to help prevent and slow the progression of  diabetes.

It protects blood vessels: Black tea contains flavonoids that are useful for protecting blood vessels from inflammation. It also helps prevent blood clotting.

It boosts the immune system: Tea is a very strong immune booster. Thus people who drink tea on a regular basis are more immune to cold or flu as well as some other minor health problems such as infections. White tea in particular has been found in some studies to have antibacterial and antiviral health benefits, so it may help you stay healthy and have a strong immune system as well.

It promotes dental health: tea contains significant levels of fluoride, which is needed to help prevent dental cavities from forming. Green tea consumption is also good for the teeth.

Tea contains antioxidants: Green, black and white teas all contain antioxidants. The antioxidants in green and black tea help fight against free radicals that lead to aging and cellular damage. White tea however has more antioxidants than green and black teas due to the fact that it is processed the least (although green teas aren’t far behind in antioxidant content).

It boosts the brain and helps fight stress:Yet another notable effect of tea is that it helps you concentrate and focus. This is important for those who mostly sit in front of a computer screen trying to stay on track with some really boring data analysis. This effect is said to be due to the amino acid L-theanine which gets absorbed in your gut and travels in the blood to your brain. 

The result is its makes awake you! What’s really cool about this is that tea doesn’t make you get  hyper like coffee does. It is a calming drink that wakes you up without over stimulation. Besides this, a cup of tea can help you fight the physical signs of stress by reducing the stress hormone in your body.