Farmers condemn release of toxic sugar

Busia, Tuesday, May 23, 2023

KNA by Salome Alwanda

A section of cane farmers from Busia County has urged the government to move with speed and ensure that the alleged toxic sugar is removed from the local supermarkets and other outlets.

Led by the Director of Busia Out Growers Company Lambert Ogochi, the farmers expressed concern that some sugar that was condemned by the relevant authorities had found its way into the market.

Ogochi lamented that factories from Western Kenya region like Busibwabo, Olepito West Kenya, Kabras and Tongaren were struggling to produce sugar yet some companies were still importing the commodity.

“What is worrying is that there is a lot of corruption within the sugar sector,” he said, adding that repackaging of toxic sugar was taking place.

He argued that the government knows the companies that were carrying out the vice and should crack the whip immediately.

"Sugar weighing more than 3 million tons has been imported from Brazil to this country and is being repackaged," he said.

The Director urged the government to subsidize fertilizer prices as a way of motivating farmers so that the issue of cane shortage is addressed.

“They should also increase the price of tons of sugarcane from the current Sh5,500 to Sh7,000 as a way of motivating farmers,” he said.

Ogochi further called for the fast tracking of the Sugar Bill 2011 and facilitate the return of the Sugar Board which is the regulatory body of the sector.

“The return of the regulatory body will help because farmers will elect people who have their interest at heart,” he explained.

The official threatened that if their grievances were not addressed, all farmers would take to the streets.

Tobias Odhiambo, a sugarcane farmer from Busia said that importation of sugarcane and processed sugar would kill the local sugar industries.

Boniface Odhiambo, another farmer from Butula claimed that sugar was being brought to the county through illegal routes hence compromising its quality.

“Our request is that the Public Health should visit all the outlets selling sugar to ensure that locals are consuming the right commodity,” he said.

 Courtesy; K.N.A