Cane farmers raise sustainability concerns as milling resumes

Sugarcane farmers have raised doubts on the sustainability of the sugar milling after companies announced resumption of crushing.

The resumption comes after the Agriculture and Food Authority lifted a four months moratorium.

Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers deputy secretary general Simon Wesechere claimed on Monday the lifting of the milling suspension was made out of political panic and is a way of diverting attention from serious problems that bedevil the country at the moment.

He said although it was expected to see heightened activities towards cane development, nothing happened and instead importation of sugar was sanctioned by the government.

“Resumption of milling is a welcome move, although just as farmers were ambushed by the closure of mills, they have again been ambushed with the announcement in their resumption for milling. Everything will come to naught without addressing the aspect of inclusivity in the process,” Wesechere said.

He said the heavy sugar imports will curtail efforts by the millers to pay farmers.

West Kenya Sugar Company, Butali Sugar Mills, Nzoia Sugar and Mumias Sugar Company have announced resumption of milling operation starting next week.

All the four millers located in the former Western province have announced increase in cane prices from between Sh5,000 and Sh5,500 to a flat rate of Sh6,050 effective December 1.

West Kenya, Mumias and Butali will resume crushing on December 1. Nzoia sugar has announced it will start milling on December 4.

The government through AFA suspended milling of sugar across the country in June due to insufficient raw material. The moratorium was meant to allow cane to mature.

Wesechere said farmers were at a loss as to who will receive and pay cane at the troubled Mumias Sugar Company.

“After Sarai was shown the door from Mumias, who came in as management? Who is going to buy farmers' produce? Should there be problems after delivery of cane, whom does farmers hold responsible?” he posed.

Wesechere said elected leaders from Western should explain why the Sugar Bill has remained on the shelves of Parliament for the last four years yet the industry is choking because of lack of a clear regulatory framework.

West Kenya head of communication and community outreach George Muruli said the company used the closure to carry out maintenance to three of its factories to enhance efficiency.

“We also carried out cane development campaign in Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley to guarantee the factories sufficient raw materials when operations resumes. The resumption of milling is welcome because some farmers had resorted to selling their crop to jaggeries where they were paid Sh3,000 per tonne,” he said.

“We found ourselves in this situation because of cane shortage. If all millers focus on cane development instead of poaching cane that has been contracted by other millers then we cannot get back to where we are. We’re encouraging farmers to plant more cane to guarantee uninterrupted supply,” he said.