Expert comment: Ruto saves Sugarcane farmers trapped in grinding poverty

Tractors carrying sugarcane struggle to pass through bad roads on their way from farms to Muhoroni Sugar Company on September 12, 2016. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUPPoor planning, corruption, and lack of foresight has trapped sugarcane farmers into a cycle of poverty as broke millers fight to stay afloat.

However Deputy President William Ruto has given sugar cane farmers the green light to market their produce to processors offering to pay on time.

Nevertheless, the Kenya National Sugarcane Farmers Union has criticised Deputy President William Ruto for the remark , claiming the remark by the DP shows the government is one-sided yet the focus should be on reviving the ailing sugar sector.Image result for Deputy President William Ruto

“The State-owned millers are facing serious monetary challenges and urging farmers to take their produce to private factories won’t solve the problem as these factories cannot sustain the demand for sugarcane in this country,” he said.

Mr. Wesechere was speaking to journalists on Saturday in Shianda, Mumias East Constituency.

He further alluded that taking sugarcane to private factories would create opportunity for fraudulent businessmen to import sugar which will negatively affect farmers.

Three days ago, the DP told farmers that the government would pay them the Ksh.1.93billion owed to them by State-owned sugarcane factories.

Image result for sugar woes kenya

He said verification of farmers has been done and the Agriculture Ministry and Treasury consulted to ensure that payment is completed.

“Until there is clarity from the task force and it has been agreed on what will happen to the sugar factories, farmers are advised that once they get paid this money by the government they should not deliver cane to the factories that have no capacity to pay,” the DP told a Cabinet meeting.

What is the solution to sugar farmers?

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