Sugarcane farmers through The Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane farmers want President William Ruto to prioritise them in his plan to revive the ailing sector.
In their plea to Ruto, the farmers want the government to lead in bringing out of the woods the sugar sector by first settling the debts owed by the millers.
Kenya’s sugar industry has 12 out-grower companies that are in knee debt and the farmers accuse the government of turning a blind on them.
“We have not heard our leaders speak for the farmers who grow the sugarcane, yet no sugarcane company will operate successfully without the sugarcane farmers,” one of the farmers lamented.
In order to successfully revive the sector, sugarcane farmers are asking President Ruto to ensure the debts owed to them are paid.
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“If the government does not reach out to the out-grower companies, then it will not be able to revive the sugar sector in this country because the people who lead those companies will squander the money and leave the sector at the same position,” one of the farmers said.
The farmers also argued that the sugar industry’s major problem is inadequate raw materials which could easily be solved through the revival of the out-grower companies.
“Back then we had out grower companies that ensured that sugarcane was available to millers when needed and that farmers were well taken care of.
“The out growers ensured that the selected sugarcane was mature enough. They also organised for transportation of the sugarcane to the millers,” a farmer explained.
On Friday, December 9, President William Ruto unveiled five multi-billion projects in Western Kenya, pledging to fulfil his pre-election promises of reviving the sugar sector.
“I still stand by my word. I will soon call the leaders from the Western Kenya region once I finalize the road map for the revival of Mumias Sugar Company so that we chart a way forward together,” Ruto declared.
