West Kenya Sugar company has announced new producer price which will make it the highest paying sugar company for cane in the Western Kenyan region.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday in Mumias, the company’s head of agriculture Praba Karan, said the new prices of cane will be at Ksh. 3,400 per tonne from the initial rate of Ksh. 3000 per tonne.
‘We are setting the new prices as incentives to farmers so that they can grow more tone to sustain the company in terms of production capacity.’ Mr. Praba said.
West Kenya now leads in payment followed by Mumias Sugar that pays Sh3,275 per tonne. Butali is third with Sh3,200 per tonne with Nzoia Sugar coming fourth at Sh3,000 per tonne.
Praba was leading other staff in presenting two bed and soap donated by the company to be used by expecting mothers in the newly constructed maternity wing.
‘Following this move, we are urging farmers to plant more sugarcane without any fears of payment. We are also promising to remove all the setbacks and corruption to make the industry profitable to farmers.
West Kenya move to increase cane price comes at a time when sugar mills company are engaged in cane harvesting cut throat competition due to shortage of sugarcane in the region.