Sugarcane farmers have urged the government to review the performance of companies leasing state-owned sugar factories, saying persistent milling inefficiencies have delayed harvesting, left cane rotting in fields and threatened farmers’ incomes.
Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association (KESGA) Secretary General Richard Ogendo said that factories in the Nyando sugar belt were operating far below capacity, creating long queues of tractors and trucks waiting to offload harvested cane.
“We have a very big problem in the Nyando sugar beltt. Tractors are spending days before they can offload cane, and sugarcane is rotting in the fields,” he said on Monday in Kisumu.
Ogendo, who is eying for Kenya Sugar Board director position, blamed frequent breakdowns at leased mills, including Chemelil Sugar Factory, for sharply reducing crushing capacity.
“Sometimes the factory crushes only 400 tonnes, sometimes 800 tonnes, and it can remain at around 800 tonnes for an entire week,” he said.
He added that harvesting three acres of mature cane could now ntake up to three weeks because of the delays.
The prolonged waiting times have increased transport costs and left tractors idle for days at factory weighbridges, while harvested cane deteriorates before processing, Ogendo said.
“The farmers are really suffering. Tractor owners can no longer sustain their employees because repair costs are rising while the equipment remains idle waiting to offload cane,” he said.
He urged the government to inspect the performance of leased factories, including Chemelil and Muhoroni sugar factories, arguing that some operators had failed to meet obligations under their lease agreements.
“If those who were given these factories are unable to satisfy the lease agreement, then others who can perform should be considered,” he said.
Ogendo said growers wanted the government to terminate leases if investigations found operators had failed to deliver the expected improvements.
He has also written to the Nyanza Parliamentary Caucus (Duol) chaired by Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal requesting an urgent consultative meeting bringing together lawmakers from Kisumu County’s sugar growing constituencies and KESGA to address the industry’s challenges.
The proposed meeting would discuss falling sugar prices, prolonged queues at factory weighbridges, delayed harvesting that has left cane rotting in fields, unpaid factory workers and the performance of factories operating under lease arrangements.
The proposed meeting would discuss falling sugar prices, prolonged queues at factory weighbridges, delayed harvesting that has left cane rotting in fields, unpaid factory workers and the performance of factories operating under lease arrangements.
KESGA said it wanted to participate in the meeting to present farmers’ concerns and help develop long term measures to revive the sugar sector.
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