A section of sugarcane farmers in the Nyando sugar belt, Kisumu County have cried out to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga to come to the aid of the ailing sugar industry.
Speaking in Muhoroni on Friday, the farmers insisted that the former Prime Minister is better placed to spearhead the revival of Miwani Sugar mills that collapsed years back, courtesy of his newfound working relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Led by Sugar Campaign for Change (SUCAM) taskforce chairman Saulo Busolo, they read resolutions arising from the meeting they had had, saying sugar cane farmers are totally opposed to proposals to merge three sugar millers in the Nyando Sugar belt which are Miwani, Muhoroni and Chemelil.
“Farmers want Miwani, Chemelil and Muhoroni mills to be rejuvenated to kick start stable cane crushing instead of merging them,” he said.
He added that they will continue meeting cane farmers to gather their views, before submitting their findings to the Head of State.
The Busolo led SUCAM taskforce, which is running parallel to a task force unveiled by the president, chaired by Kakamega governor Wycliffe Opranya, has been touring sugarcane growing regions, gathering views from farmers.
It disputed claims that the task force established by the president had farmers interests at heart quoting instances where it has proposed sugar zoning which many farmers are opposed to.
Sugarcane farmers have been going a rough time due to delayed payment of their sugarcane supplied to various public cane millers across the country.
During Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kakamega in October last year, President Kenyatta announced that the government had set aside Sh2.6 billion to pay farmers their dues but up to now, the farmers are yet to be paid.
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