The Kisumu sugar belt union now wants cane farmers to have more say in making of decisions affecting cane farmers.
The members said that the composition of farmers in various committee was too minimal to make any meaningful impact.
Union chairman Zedekiah Otene said more farmers should be incorporated in the pricing committee since they play a big role in cane development.
Speaking during a public participation forum in Kibos area, Kisumu East constituency, Otene said cane farmers have been suffering despite the fact that cane levy is deducted by county government.
Otene said cane levy should be reverted back to the Kenya sugar board like before.
He observed that the levy is secured by county governments yet roads in the sugar belt are still in pathetic conditions, adding that a lot of cane goes to waste due to poor roads.
He said more farmers should be consulted adding that payment of cane delivered should not be pegged on sucrose content alone but other by products also as is the case in other neighboring countries, adding that the biggest enemy of cane farmers is imports of sugar from outside the country.
The chief executive officer of the KSB Jude Chesire said views aired by farmers will be taken into account.
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He said all views taken will be considered when they come up with bylaws as required by the Sugar Act.
Board member at Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Samuel Ong’ou lauded President William Ruto for assenting to the sugar bill at the last minute.
“The head of state has the interest of cane farmers at heart.The Acts has breathed a new lease of life into the sugar sector, and a lot has been achieved under the new regime of Kenya Kwanza administration.” He said.
“Writing off of the debts to the tune of Ksh.117 billion was a huge breakthrough besides allowing sugarcane farmers to access subsidized fertilizers for the first time,” he added.
He said they have looked into the Act and can point to a number of benefits that will be derived from it for the interest of the farmers.
“Farmers will be having a slot in the research institute, more directors in the board and representatives in the pricing committee,” he said.
Ong’ou further revealed that the 40 percent that will be deducted for cane development is a greater achievement in the industry since it will address the cane shortage that has been witnessed in the past.
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“The act paves the way for funding research into early-maturing cane varieties with high sucrose yields, enabling payments to be based on sucrose content that was previously not feasible,” said Ongou.
Ongou emphasized that payments based on sucrose content will directly benefit growers, enabling them to receive compensation for sugar by-products like bagasse, molasses, and co-generated electricity from milling factory turbines marking a historic first for farmers.
He also praised the President for fulfilling his pre-election pledge to reform Kenya’s sugar industry, a commitment made during the lead-up to the 2022
elections.
The new legislation aims to address various challenges within the sector, including production, pricing, and quality control, with the goal of revitalizing the industry and supporting local farmers
However, Ongou admitted that the main problem afflicting farmers is cane prizing.
He said more farmers should be represented there so that their interests can be catered for.
By Fredrick Odiero
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