- The stakeholders acknowledged government's various efforts to stabilise and energise the sector.
- They noted settling of debts amounting to billions of shillings, paying farmers arrears and increasing cane payment per acre.
Image: FAITH MATETE
Sugarcane stakeholders from Western Kenya have commended the government for its initiative to revive the struggling sugar industry.
The stakeholders acknowledged government's various efforts to stabilise and energise the sector.
Sugarcane lobby groups led by Richard Ogendo, the Kenya Sugarcane Growers Associations (KESGA) secretary general noted that the various measures taken by the government have encouraged farmers to resume cane farming.
Ogendo noted that settling of debts amounting to billions of shillings, paying farmers arrears and increasing cane payment per acre is something they had envisioned could never happen.
"We want to thank the President for writing off the debt owed by the sugar firms, most of farmers arrears paid and currently we are seeing exponential growth in the sector under his leadership," he said.
He added that so far the industry is back on track because of the deliberate move to bring back sugarcane as a key crop in the country.
Ogendo noted that they project that if the government continues with the same trajectory of attracting investors to private sugar mills, they will be having a surplus of 150,000 metrc tones of sugar ready for export.
"So instead of Kenya becoming a net importer will be come a net exporter."
Ogendo that this means more money in farmers' pockets.
While addressing the media, Ogendo also urged the President to assent to the Sugar Bill, 2022 in order to enable cane farmers to start reap its benefits.
He noted that the Bill, which was fronted by Malava MP Emmanuel Wangwe and David Wakoli of Webuye will go a long way in addressing many woes affecting the sugar sector.
The sugar Bill, 2022 proposes a raft of reforms that if made law will streamline operations in the critical sugar sub-sector.
Among the proposed reforms is the establishment of the Kenya Sugar Board, which will be mandated to specifically manage sugar affairs as opposed to the current arrangement where sugar issues in the country are generalised under the Agriculture and Food Authority.
The Bill is currently in the mediation stage having been considered by the bicameral Parliament.
Secretary general of the Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, Samuel Sechere, echoed Ogendo's sentiments saying that currently due to some mechanism put in place, they are already seeing fruits - having money in the pockets of farmers.
He said when there are sugar boards in place, everything will work out smoothly within the sector.
"We believe that through the sugar boards, various matters sorrounding the farmers and the sector will be addressed," Sechere said.