Sugar Cane Farmers needs more time to have their input on proposed Crop regulations.

 Officials of the Kenya National Federation of Sugar Cane Farmers led by Muhoroni Branch Secretary Michael Sidigu address the press in Kisumu where they told the government to give them more time to discuss the proposed Crop regulation 2018-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo

  

 August 17, 2018.

Sugar Cane Farmers needs more time to have their input on proposed Crop regulations.

SUGARCANE Farmers from the larger Western Kenya region wants the National Government to give them more time to study the proposed Crops {Sugar} {General} regulations, 2018.

The farmers say their input is very vital hence the need to get ample time to discuss the regulations which is being made by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Addressing the press in Kisumu after attending the Sugar Campaign for Change {SUCAM} meeting, the farmers led by the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya National Federation of Sugar Cane Farmers Simon Wesechere claim that there are two sets of documents in regard to the regulations which has been dispatched to them hence confusing the sugarcane farmers.

Wesechere urged the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to tell them which of the two documents they should discuss and forward their recommendations before the time allocated elapse.

Wesechere has also accused a section of private sugar cane millers on wanting to take control of the sugarcane farmers.

Michael Sidigu, the Kenya National Federation of Sugar Cane Farmers Branch Secretary for Muhoroni area says the have to reach the far corners of the regions where the sugarcane farmers are so as to get their recommendations on the proposed regulations.

“We have to reach the far corners where the sugarcane farmers are and to mobilize them so as to study this document and have their input which should be forwarded hence needs more time to do this,” Sidigu says.

He says there are some contentious issues like the zoning and allocation of Sugar Development Fund to Agricultural Food Authority.

“As a sugarcane farmer, I don’t think it is necessary for the sugarcane farmers to be pegged even to the failing sugar factories in the name of zoning. My business is to produce sugarcane and sell to willing buyer and get my money then I continue with my business of sugarcane growing,” he adds.

He says AFA should not be given 15 percent of the money obtained from the Sugar Development Levy.

“There is no reason as to why AFA should be allocated 15 percent of the money got from the Sugar Development Levy. Sugar cane farmers have been exploited for so long and we need this money to be taken directly to the Sugar Directorate so as to help in revamping the sugar industry,” he further says.

He says the Ministry of Agriculture should clearly tell in the regulations which body will represent the interest of the sugarcane farmers in the country.

“We want the body which will represent the interests of the sugar cane farmers be clearly known and spelt out in the proposed regulation. We also want a clearly spelt amount which will go to the Sugar Directorate,” Sidigu further adds.

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