Task force proposes cane pricing team in bid to revive sugar industry

A dispute resolution tribunal and a cane pricing committee are some of the new measures proposed in a bid to reinvigorate the limping sugar industry and which are contained in a report to be presented to President Kenyatta next week.

Although still in draft form, sources revealed access to credit, cushioning the local market from cheap sugar imports and the relationship between millers, farmers and transporters also feature.

MILLERS

Sources said other recommendations in the report include the need to gazette proposed sugar regulations to address the scramble for raw material by rival millers.

On Tuesday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri said the task force which was mandated to look into issues in the sugar sector and propose reforms was winding up after presenting the draft report to cane farmers at a validation meeting last weekend.

Mr Kiunjuri, who spoke at Kambi Ya Mwanza market in Kakamega North Sub-county, asked farmers to be patient as the sugar task force he co-chairs with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya wraps up its work.

“We are expecting to hand in the report to President Uhuru Kenyatta in the coming 10 days and we are confident that the report will address key concerns raised by farmers in the country,” he said.

The CS and Mr Oparanya did not give details on the contents of report saying it will be pre-empting the findings.

FARMERS

Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa said: “We are pushing for reforms in the sugar industry as a government through the sugar task force to empower ordinary farmers.”

At Saturday’s validation meeting at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu, however, farmers rejected a zoning proposal for sugar growing areas, almost bringing down the meeting. They were assured by Mr Oparanya that their objections would be captured.

According to the deputy secretary of the Kenya National Federation of Sugar cane Farmers, Mr Simon Wesechere, there are numerous issues which need to be addressed if the woes in the troubled sugar industry are to be addressed.

The federation has maintained its position on creation of regional clusters to address cane poaching and ensure millers within the regions have adequate supply of raw material to sustain their operations.