The government has revised the price for sugarcane upwards after uproar by farmers.
Cane growers will now be paid Sh5,000 per tonne from Sh4,950 per tonne announced by the Agriculture and Food Authority on August 7.
Acting director of the Sugar directorate, June Chesire, announced interim sugar price for the month of August.
“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,” read a notice by Chesire.
The announcement did not go down well with farmers’ organisations and leaders from sugarcane growing zones, who accused the government of killing the sugar industry.
A meeting at Kilimo House in Nairobi on Wednesday resulted in the adjustment, which was announced by the sugarcane pricing committee.
“The new price aligns to the prevailing market conditions, taking into account fluctuations in sugar price, production costs, global trade dynamics and the need to enhance farmers' income,” Agriculture CS Andrew Karanja said.
The new price, which takes effect from August 22, 2024, is still lower than the previous cost of Sh5,125 which expired at the end of July.
Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association secretary general Richard Ogendo said on Thursday the approved price was out of touch with the reality on the ground.
Although farmers appreciated the Sh50 increment, it was far below the cost of production of a tonne of cane.
He called on the CS to implement the reforms that President William Ruto has been instituting, or else he will fall.
“What the minister has done is to renew the sugarcane pricing committee, but farmers were not asked to nominate their representatives to the committee. Those representing farmers were sent there by other people to represent their interests,” he said.
