Lobby lauds appointment of new Agric CS, ask him to steer reforms in the sugar sector.

Members of the Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers Organizations address the press in Kisumu today where they have welcomed the appointment of the new CS Agriculture Peter Munya- Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

By Dickson Odhiambo

January 17, 2020.

Lobby lauds appointment of new Agric CS, ask him to steer reforms in the sugar sector.

A SECTION of Sugarcane farmers have lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent move to reshuffle the cabinet where he appointed a new Cabinet secretary in charge of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries.

Under the banner of the Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers Organizations, the Sugarcane farmers say the new Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya should move with speed and help in bringing the much needed reforms in the sugar sector.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today, the farmers’ representatives led by Richard Ogendo, Charles Atyang, Saulo Busolo, Stephen Ole Narupa said sugarcane farmers have been wanting the Ministry to carry out a total overhaul to the Department of Sugar Directorate for allegedly frustrating the sugar reforms in the country.

Richard Ogendo says the new Cabinet Secretary should ensure that the Taskforce report that is yet to be handed over to the President contains the real view of the sugarcane farmers as presented to Committee earlier.

Ogendo claims that some powerful individuals have managed to change some content of the draft report, adding that sugarcane farmers have been very clear that they don’t want the issue of zoning of sugarcane.

He says the Sugarcane farmers are also very clear that they don’t want the issue of merging the state =-owned sugar factories before the process of privatization process commence.

“There are some cartels within the ministry of Agriculture who have captured the Draft Taskforce report and doctored it due to their own selfish interests,” Ogendo says.

Ogendo adds that the Sugar Task force report should capture the views of sugarcane farmers before being handed over to the President.

He further says Sugarcane farmers should be allocated a fund to help them being freed just like the tea farmers have been allocated shs 3billion, sugarcane is a very key crop in Nyanza and Western Kenya region.

Ogendo further adds that new CS should carry out a clean-up at the AFAA and the Sugar Directorate if he want to succeed in the Ministry.

Stephen Ole Narupa says the view of sugarcane farmers must be fully captured in the report.

He has called for the ban on sugar being imported into the country.

Charles Atyang says sugar industry require urgent restructuring for it to be saved, adding that there is serious restructuring in the sector needed.

He urges the new CS in the Ministry of Agriculture Peter Munya to immediately dissolve all the Board of Directors of the State-owned sugar factories because they are the ones derailing the process of privatization.

“The current boards in the sugar factories are the major impediment to the process of privatization hence the need to dissolve by the new Cabinet Secretary in charge of Agriculture,” he says.

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