Cane farmers cry foul over the proposal to import sugar

Busia

Friday, August 4, 2023

by Salome Alwanda/Ochoko Gavin

Cane farmers from Western Kenya Region have expressed disappointment at the recent pronouncement by President William Ruto allowing importation of sugar into the country.

Led by the Director of Busia Out growers Company (BOCO), Lambert Ogochi, the farmers said that the pronouncement has weakened the local farmers.

"As farmers from Western region, we have enough cane to produce sugar," he said, adding that last month the Agriculture and Food Authority allowed the closure of sugarcane factories for three months to pave the way for maturity.

Ogochi stated that after the three months, the region will have mature cane that can produce over 1.2 million metric tons of sugar within the country.

“Currently the country is producing 1million metric tons and the consumption is 1.3 tons,” he said, adding that this leaves a deficit of around 180 metric tons.

He argued that the president did not consult farmers nor indicate the time frame for Sugar importation.

The Director blamed the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for failing to advise the President about the economy of Western Kenya region.

“Cabinet Secretaries from tea and coffee growing areas have advised the President accordingly and their plight in terms of cost of production has been budgeted for,” he said, adding that over 7 million residents of Western region rely directly or indirectly on sugar mills.

Ogochi at the same time stated that over 20 million people who were sugarcane farmers do not have any source of income due to closure of some of the sugar factories.

“Next week we are going to court against the president's directive on sugar importation,” he said, adding that the cost of sugar can only be reduced by reducing the cost of production.

He suggested that the president could have allowed importation of 500 metric tons from the COMESA region within the three months before sugar factories resume their operations instead.

On Wednesday, President Ruto allowed for importation of sugar by mid this month to cushion Kenyans from high cost in the prevailing markets.

The President blamed the high cost on what he termed as confusion within the sector adding that the government was in the process of streamlining it.

He argued that the supply within the COMESA region was not enough and called for importation from other areas across the globe.

Currently, one kilogram of sugar is retailing at Sh. 230 in the local supermarket outlets.

Courtesy ; K. N. A