Ruto spells out new measures to sugar millers

Sugarcane millers will now be required to weigh cane on farms and pay farmers according to the sucrose content of their crop. Millers have until January 2010 to comply with the new regulation announced on Saturday by Agriculture minister William Ruto.

He said sugar companies are expected to fully comply with the directive which is likely to spark off controversy among key players in the industry. The minister said the measures were meant to protect cane farmers from exploitation.

“Sugar millers have enough time to adopt the measures and ensure they comply with the new regulations by January next year,” said Mr Ruto. He said farmers have been incurring losses from spillage of cane being transported to factories and were kept in dark about the tonnage of their crop when it is finally delivered.

Mr Ruto said the Kenya Sugar Board will now import cheaper fertilizer and other farm inputs using money generated from levies imposed on sugar. He accused a cartel of unscrupulous traders of being behind the importation of fertiliser which was later sold to farmers at inflated prices.

The minister hit out at un-named directors of the sugar board whom he said were opposed to plans by the government to import the cheaper fertiliser. Speaking when he officially opened the Kakamega Show, Mr Ruto urged farmers in Western Province to exploit the good climatic conditions in the region and adopt modern farming methods to improve productivity.