Farmers urge Ruto to assent to Sugar Bill, review prices

 

Ezra Olodi Secretary General of Kenya National Federations of Sugarcane Farmers pleaded with former President Uhuru Kenyatta to help in implementing the sugarcane task force. [Caleb Kingwara, Standard]

Sugarcane farmers have urged President William Ruto to sign the Sugar Bill 2022 and have cane prices reviewed.

The farmers say the Bill when assented to will help protect both farmers and millers.

According to Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers chairman Ezra Olodi, the law will help regulate the sugar industry.

“We are pleading with the President to do what he promised. He needs to sign the Bill for us to get the Sugar Act,” Mr Olodi said.

Olodi says the sugar industry runs without any rules or regulations and that makes prices go down every year while the cost of production rises.

The Sugar Bill was passed by the National Assembly and approved by the Senate and is only waiting for the President to assent to it.

The farmers also pleaded with the government to consider reviewing cane prices, which was reduced from Sh5,125 to Sh4,950.

The farmers want cane prices to be fair so that they can also benefit.

“The cost of production is high. Those who took their cane to factories did so when the cost of production was high. When these prices are reduced, the farmers make losses,” Olodi said.

Additionally, the sugarcane farmers want a committee for cane pressing put in place which, they believe, will allow them to sell their cane at fair prices.

Olodi, however, thanked the government for writing off Sh117 billion owed by Miwani, Nzoia, Chemelil, Muhoroni, and Sony Sugar companies.