• The notice dated August 7 is addressed to sugar millers and copied to the Agriculture PS and AFA director general.
• Ogendo said the prices fell to Sh5,200 and later to Sh5,125 and now Sh4,950.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
The government has announced reduction of sugar cane prices in the month of August.
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) directed millers to pay farmers Sh4,950 per tonne down from Sh5,125 per tonne.
“Following the expiry of the interim sugar pricing committee and in absence of a Cabinet secretary to appoint the same, the price of cane per tonne in the interior for the month of August is Sh4,950,” a notice by acting director June Chesire read.
The notice dated August 7 is addressed to sugar millers and copied to the Agriculture PS and AFA director general.
But Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association has rejected the new prices, saying they signal a progressive claw back of the gains achieved by the sector reforms that were started by President William Ruto.
Association secretary general Richard Ogendo said the price per tonne of cane was Sh6,100 when the President announced the reforms in line with the MoU sugar actors signed with the Kenya Kwanza regime.
He said the prices fell to Sh5,200 and later to Sh5,125 and now Sh4,950.
Ogendo said the reduction in prices of cane has been triggered by flooding of the local markets with imported sugar without proper research of market systems.
“This means there are people in the Ministry of Agriculture who do not appreciate efforts being made by President Ruto to put more money in the pockets of cane farmers,” he said.
Association chairman Soul Busily said the association will occupy the Ministry of Agriculture offices and millers unless the government reversed the directive.
Kenya National Federation for Sugarcane Farmers first deputy national chairman Ibrahim Juma said the price of one tonne of sugarcane, cannot sell for less than Sh6,000 and the same cannot be sold at half price.
He said he had gone through all stores by local millers and realised they are full of sugar because the millers are operating optimally.
“In fact, farmers are demonstrating in some regions because the mires are unable to harvest their cane,” Juma said.
He said importation of sugar into the country should only be sanctioned after thorough research to ensure what comes into the country does not hurt the industry.