The Kenya Sugar Board has defended its decision to shut down sugar mills in the Western Region for the next three months, emphasizing that the decision will result in significant financial gains for thousands of farmers in the region.

In a statement on Saturday, July 12, Kenya Sugar Board CEO Jude Chesire claimed that once the factories reopen in October, sugarcane farmers will be expected to sell their cane at Ksh72,000 per acre.

Currently, sugarcane millers in the western region purchase sugarcane from farmers for Ksh5,500 per tonne, meaning that in the next three months, farmers will get to enjoy an average of Ksh6,000 per tonne.

According to Chesire, the strategy to close the mills, which he claims is not new, will allow the sugar cane to mature and gain weight fully. Since the nation will be generating enough sugar on its own, the CEO is optimistic that sugar imports will be minimal in the upcoming year.

A sugarcane farm in Western parts of Kenya.

Photo Butali Sugar Company

Furthermore, Chesire asserted that the move also aims to benefit sugarcane millers, as they will need less raw cane to produce sugar. According to Chesire, the milling of immature cane has led sugarcane farmers to incur losses due to lower cane yields.

"Most recently, the board, together with other stakeholders, decided to close the mills for three months to allow cane to mature, and this is an exercise that happens from time to time to allow cane to mature. After the mills are open and the cane is mature, the farmers will enjoy more profits due to the increase in weight and quality of the product," the CEO said.

"In terms of money, in one hectare, the farmer is going to gain Ksh72,000, at an average of Ksh6,000 per metric tonne, and so this is a decision that is good for the farmer. In such instances, millers normally mitigate this situation by advancing farmers money for them to cater for their needs as they prepare the mills for reopening," he stated.

The board attributed the immature sugarcane situation to erratic weather patterns, delayed planting cycles, and increased competition among millers for cane.

In a letter on Thursday, July 10, the board confirmed that a three-month suspension of milling operations in both the Lower and Upper Western sugarcane zones will take effect on Monday, July 14.

The suspension will affect Nzoia Sugar, Busia Sugar Industry, West Kenya Naitiri Unit, Butali Sugar Mills, Mumias Sugar, and West Kenya Olepito Unit.

The board is expected to conduct a  Cane Availability Survey within the next two months, which will inform the milling capacity of each factory upon the resumption of operations.

“This is due to inadequate cane development to match milling capacity. This has led to harvesting and subsequent milling of immature cane,” the letter read.

The announcement has caused uncertainty among cane farmers in the affected regions, with concerns being raised about the livelihoods of farmers and mill workers and the stability of sugar supply chains in the country.

A truck harvesting sugarcane

Photo

John W Banagan