Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi has urged the National Government to involve both millers and farmers in the importation of sugar to avoid flooding the Kenyan market with imported sugar.
In his proposal to the Dr Patrick Omutia led National Sugar Taskforce that visited Olepito and Busia Sugar Industries to receive views from farmers, Mulomi said involving the two parties will also help curb importation of substandard sugar.
Mulomi urged the two sugar firms of Olepito and Busia Sugar Industries to ensure they enforce the contracts with farmers including prompt payments.
He said the factories should ensure their cane and new sugarcane varieties are availed to farmers to improve on their yields.
He also urged Miller’s to give bonuses to farmers because they –millers benefit from byproducts like production of electricity, industrial alcohol, fertilizer and many others.
He said bonuses will boost farmer’s morale.
Mulomi called on the millers to ensure they give farmers accurate measurements of their cane.
He said transportation of the cane from the farm to the factory should be done by the millers and not farmers.
The Deputy Governor thanked the two firms for their CSR by constructing hospitals, classrooms and many others.
West Kenya Sugar Company is opposed to the Cane Zoning on regional basis which is aimed at helping revive the struggling sugar sector in Western and Nyanza regions.
The company chairman Jaswant Singh Rai in his proposal to the taskforce said farmers should be given freedom to deliver sugarcane to the miller of his or her choice.
Rai was backed by Sugarcane farmers Peter Odima, George Olakitar and Lambert Ogochi who said they need freedom to sell their cane where they like.
Busia Sugar Industry Operations Manager Hussein Kaka said they are supporting the cane zoning due to numerous advantages it comes along with in helping revive the struggling sugar sector.
He said cane zoning will promote research, good relationships with neighbors, ensure adequate cane supply, food security, community empowerment, industry sustainability and create a fair level ground to do business.