By HEZRON OCHIEL
Sugarcane farmers can heave a sigh of relief after the government released subsidised fertilisers to reduce the cost of production. The government says the fertilisers that will be sold between Sh1,500 and Sh2,000 will allow local sugar products to effectively compete with products from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
While launching the fertilisers yesterday in Muhorini Sugar Company, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Felix Koskey asked cane farmers to take advantage of the fertilisers to boost production. ‘‘So far the fertilisers have been shipped into the country and will be issued by the sugar companies,’’ said Mr Koskey.
Constant problems
The Cabinet Secretary revealed that the Government has signed a Sh7 billion agreement with the Brazilian Government to bring 150 tractors for farming, adding that the tractors will be sold to farmers and County Government at subsidised prices.
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‘‘We are doing this to solve constant problems in the agriculture sector. We want to do it once and for all,’’ said Koskey.
He, however, challenged cane farmers to get involved in small business like dairy cattle rearing to provide an alternative source of livelihood. While admitting that companies are unable to sell sugar due to illegal importation of cheaper commodities, Koskey assured farmers that the government was committed to cracking down on such traders.
Also present at the function was area MP Otieno Koyoo who welcomed the move by the government and called on farmers to expand production by expanding their farms to solve the country’s sugar deficit. The farmers asked Koskey to ensure cane farmers are actively involved in privatisation process. Sugar sector is set to undergo major changes this year. The farmers have insisted that they want 51 per cent shares in the Companies.
Currently, total production of sugar stands at approximately 450,000 metric tonnes. The total demand for sugar in the country is 610,000 tones. The deficit is however, filled by importation from Comesa countries.
