Sugarcane being loaded in a tractor in a cane farm. [Photo|mygov.go.ke]
The government has developed regulations to curb sugarcane poaching and streamline management of public sugar factories.
The regulations which reintroduce sugarcane zoning are aimed at reviving collapsed government factories which went under due to mismanagement and lack of sugarcane.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Willy Bett said sugarcane poaching by private companies which have not invested in cane development have forced some public companies to close shop while others were crushing below capacity making it difficult to pay farmers.
The CS said the regulations which shall take effect soon will enforce proper cane development programmes to ensure that the country produces enough sugar.
Kenya’s annual sugar consumption stands at 800,000 metric tonnes however only 600,000 tonnes are produced locally.
“We want to scale up production to ensure that our factories crash to capacity to bridge this deficit,” said Bett.
The CS added that mismanagement was partly to blame for the problems facing the sector asking factory managers to enhance efficiency to revive the sector.
“Farmers bring sugarcane to the factories, it is crashed and sold. How come they are not paid?”
The CS made the remarks at Chemelil Sugar factory yesterday where he presented bailout cheques worth Sh300 million to farmers.
The government came to the rescue of the struggling miller which owed over 9, 000 and suppliers from the year 2014.
Chemelil Sugar Factory Managing Director Gabriel Nyangweso thanked the government for the gesture adding that a lot more needs to be done to revive the factory.
The company, he said was urgently in need of Sh500 million to modernize the equipment which has not been replaced since the year 2013.
He further urged the help pay Sh315 million salary arrears for staff that have not been paid for three months.
Kisumu County Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o and his Nandi counterpart Stephen Sang pledged to push for legislation at county level to support the factory.