Government asked to allocate funds for cane development, new machinery purchase

Kisumu

Monday, August 7, 2023

KNA by Chris Mahandara

Muhoroni Member of Parliament (MP) James K’oyoo has asked the government to allocate funds for cane development to save the sugar industry from collapse.

Additional funds, he added must go towards purchase of new machinery and equipment to make state-owned sugar companies efficient.

The MP said lack of sugarcane has grounded operations at all state-owned and private millers leading to scarcity of sugar in the country amid escalating prices.

This, he said was occasioned by lack of an elaborate sugar development programme in the country which has resulted into poor yields and intermittent production.

Currently, he said Mumias Sugar and Nzoia Sugar have closed down with Muhoroni, Chemelil and Sony Sugar companies expected to follow suit due to lack of raw materials.

The move, he said, was set to hit hard millions of households in the sugar belt who depend on the crop as a source of livelihood since private millers like West Kenya and Butali Sugar have also closed shop.

Speaking at Chemelil roundabout in his constituency during a football tournament, the MP asked the government to invest in research and facilitate development of resilient and fast maturing sugarcane varieties besides supporting farmers with seed cane and fertiliser to revive the sector.

To make the sector sustainable, the government, he added, must set in motion the process of procuring modern equipment and technology for all state-owned mills to enhance their capacity to crush cane.

The equipment in use, he added, was dilapidated having been installed more than forty years ago making it difficult for the companies to compete effectively with their counterparts in the private sector.

“You don’t expect old machinery installed in Chemelil in 1972 to mill with the same capacity as that in Mumias and other private companies who have deployed new technology,” he said.

Leaders from sugarcane growing areas, he added, had successfully petitioned the last regime where promises were made to revive the sector, but very little has been done towards the same.

“We had successfully petitioned the former government led by Uhuru Kenyatta and farmers were hoping that the promises made to revive the sector were going to be fulfilled,” he said.

K’oyoo urged the government to relook into the plight of sugarcane farmers and the sector at large to save the multi-billion sector from going under.

The government, he added, must endeavour to offer services to all Kenyans regardless of their political affiliations to ensure balance in allocation of resources.

“As much as we don’t follow them politically, we are Kenyans and we pay taxes. Even these factories that are struggling are paying taxes and that money must be ploughed back to help salvage the sector,” he said.

K’oyoo, who was elected on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket, took issue with a cross-section of leaders who were pushing him to work with the government adding that the government has a mandate to deliver development projects in the area regardless of his stand on the ruling coalition.

“The budget is passed in Parliament and not in the State House. Therefore those MP’s running around telling you that they jumped sheep to bring development home are cheating you. They are conmen and you must be wary of them,” he said.

During the tournament, the MP through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (CDF) kitty donated balls, shoes, uniforms and other sporting gear to participating teams.

The tournament, he said, was key in scouting and development of local footballing talent, adding that his office shall support them to take their careers to greater heights.

A sports committee for the constituency, he said, has been established and will look into how to expand the tournament to include other games and at the same time roll out training for coaches and referees.

“This is just the beginning and this tournament shall be bigger in December. We have just started and there is no turning back. We want to support these players to go into top flight football,” he said.

Courtesy ; K. N. A