Sugarcane farmers in Muhoroni sub County, Kisumu County have faulted the government for neglecting the sugar sector in the country.
This follows the action taken by the Ministry of Agriculture early this year to increase the price of canes from the current sh.3,700 per tonne to sh.4,040 per tonne which has never been implemented.
The Kenya Nationa Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (KNFSF) Muhoroni branch secretary, Mr. Noah Oliech , Claimed that the factory had not received any financial assistance from the government in spite of its deepening financial crisis.
The cane growers have blamed the company’s Management over delays in payment despite the current high demand for sugar in the local market.
Speaking to Ghetto Radio, Hannington Ochieng confirms that they have never received any price increase and the factories frustrastes them moreso when your cane got burnt.
“We never received the amount the government added on cane prices. That amount is on the transport, and after the sugarcane is delivered to the factory payment do delays more.When your cane got burnt accidentally, that’s another problem as it the opportunity they use to frustrate us most,” says Ochieng.
Ochieng request the government to restructure the cane growers leadership and set up mechanism who are corrupt in the sector.
“Am requesting the government to set up mechanism for these our cane growers leaders. Some of them are corrupt. You find a farmer spends a lot of money on the farm and again when it reaches a time. your planning to sell your canes, they need to be paid for your can to be taken to the factory, that’s corruption.,” he concluded.
