Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma has urged sugarcane factories in Kisumu County to add value to the sugarcane products to create more funds to pay farmers.
According to Governor Ranguma, converting the value of sugarcane will provide money for the farmers, and greatly improve the economy and sustainable value sugar products.
"In fact if you gave me those three factories, I will make the best out of them because I will produce ethanol, energy, sugar, fertilizer and paper,” said Governor Ranguma.
"We ensure our sugarcane factories are full sustained so that they are do not collapse because somebody else is importing sugar," he added.
He said that National government plays a role, because it issues licenses for importation of sugar, further challenging sugarcane farmers in Kisumu County to produce enough for local use.
"We should produce enough so that we can stop the importation of sugar from other countries. National government can stop them from giving license because we don't provide enough for our own consumption,” said Governor Ranguma.
He however opposed the idea of privatization of sugar factories.
“Privatisation is willing buyer process and any person who has the capacity to buy. In Kisumu, who has the capacity to buy, maybe people business men based in Nairobi,” said the Governor.