Sugarcane farmers welcome Ruto's promise to pay bonus in January

Kwale Sugarcane Outgrowers Farmers Association chairman David Ndirangu inspects a farm. [File, Standard]

Sugarcane farmers Sunday hailed President William Ruto’s plan to pay bonus by the end of January, as the best New Year’s gift ever.

Kwale Sugarcane Outgrowers Farmers Association chairman David Ndirangu said that the move will boost the morale of cane farmers.

He said sugarcane farmers have endured tougher economic times despite their hard work, and the bonus was long overdue.

“We commend the Head of State for his foresight in ensuring that farmers, crucial to a heavily agricultural nation like Kenya, are content with their work,” Ndirangu stated.

He said that it is a first for cane farmers and that it has come at an opportune time.

"Kwale International Sugar Company (Kiscol) and Kwale farmers will benefit the most since their new varieties and cane mature after 12 months,” he said.

Ndirangu urged the government to ensure sugarcane farmers receive subsidised fertiliser, better seed varieties that are pest resistant, adequate training and upgrade roads to their farms to ease can delivery to the factory.

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In Kwale, Kiscol operates a modern milling plant in the former defunct Ramisi Sugar Company in Msambweni constituency, that produces sugar, ethanol, and electricity.

Kiscol owns 5,500 hectares of cultivated cane, a sugar mill processing 3,000 tonnes per day, an 18-megawatt bagasse-fired power plant, and a sophisticated irrigation and water management system.

The firm uses a sub-surface drip feed irrigation in its nucleus farm. There are some 1500 registered outgrowers on some 4500 hectares of land.

During a recent meeting in Western Kenya, the Head of State said that it was unfair to pay bonuses to other farmers cultivating important and strategic produce like tea and coffee while leaving out cane farmers.

“The way we pay tea and coffee bonuses is the same way we must pay cane farmers from this region,” Ruto said and announced that all farmers registered with the government will benefit from the pay.

The President revealed that the government has made the necessary arrangements to facilitate the payouts to farmers.

By 2019, the country had approximately 250,000 small-scale sugarcane farmers.

In 2024, the Cabinet approved a decision not to import sugar, following increased local production.

Industry stakeholders have further attributed good and improved cane management to increased production.

Last year, producers harvested 800,000 metric tonnes, compared to a national average of 700,000 metric tonnes in previous years.