Officials of the two factions championing for sugar cane farmers’ rights have locked horns over the presidential directive to pay farmers.
The Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers Organization led by Saulo Busolo questioned the government's involvement in the sugar industry.
During his tour of Kisumu County and the entire western region sugar belt to meet cane farmers, Busolo said that the government should investigate corruption within the sugar sector instead of rushing to bail out millers.
He added that most government millers have performed poorly in terms of payment of farmers and workers and that the task force formed by the government to look into issues ailing the sugar industry had no farmers representatives and may to not deliver to the expectations of farmers.
Together with his deputy Charles Atyang’e, they urged the government to privatize all millers to shield the taxpayers of the unnecessary burden of bailing out government millers.
They also called on the government to ban zoning of sugarcane saying it has led to the frustration of farmers.
However, the Kenya Federation of Sugarcane Farmers led by its chairman Ezra Olodi said that they are patiently waiting for the supplementary budget to settle off their debts as President Kenyatta had earlier directed.
Olodi said that they will not welcome any move to privatize the giant milling company, Sony Sugar adding its privatization will result in an uncontrolled market.
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