Tobacco farmers in Migori cry foul over factory closure

MIGORI, KENYA: Tobacco farmers from Migori County are a have expressed their fears after one of the major tobacco firms in Migori County closed down operations.

Alliance One closed down operations in Migori County last month leaving hundreds jobless as well as many farmers wondering where to take their products.
Migori County is the largest producer of tobacco and accounts for 70 percent of tobacco being produced annually in Kenya.
Alliance One, according to Robert Omondi a tobacco farmer in Migori, bought tobacco indiscriminately from farmers and  exit now spells doom to many farmers.

The departure of Alliance leaves British American Tobacco and Mastermind as major operators in the area.

"Exit of Alliance One will see most of us shifting from cultivating tobacco to other crops because there would be a lot of flooding in the market with over 20, 000 farmers scrambling to sell tobacco to two
companies. I foresee delayed payments as well as low prices for products that are expensive to produce," said Mr Omondi.

He added, "BAT currently buys products from farmers that they contract, where they offer inputs and services in form of loans that are payable during harvesting. There are 9, 000 farmers already on
contract with them."

Tobacco is the second largest commercially grown crop in Migori County after sugar cane, with many farmers coming from Kuria, Suna East and Uriri sub-counties.

Migori County governor Okoth Obado however promised the farmers that the county government will look for possible buyers who would offer them better prices.

"Migori produces the best tobacco and with this we shall market our products outside the county, closure of one firm should not make us fear," said Mr Obado.