Sugarcane payment in the country will now not be based on quantity delivered to the factories but sucrose content.
This was said on Friday by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Felix Koskei, when he visited Chemelil sugar factory in Muhoroni Constituency.
Koskei said that already they are importing sucrose content weighing machines from Brazil. The CS said that the machines will be installed in all public and private sugarcane factories in the country.
Koskei urged farmers not to be contented with the weigh bridges in the factories, since some are faulty.
“Some farmers are losing out much money due to faulty weigh bridge machines, sucrose content is the best way to pay sugarcane farmers,” said Koskei.
He said that payment based on sucrose content will encourage farmers to employ proper farming techniques, hencing enhacing the quality.
He said farmers should now be encouraged to dedicate their efforts in their farms and improve on their cane yields. Some machines are expected to arrive in the country by May.
There are already some other machines at Nzoia and Sony sugar factories undergoing testing.
At the same time Koskei called upon parliamentary select committee on agriculture to release the report on sugar smuggling in the country. Koskei said his ministry has been in the fore front to fight illegal sugar importation in the country.