Farmers now demand higher cane prices

By NICK OLUOCH

and JOEL OKWAYO

Sugarcane farmers are now demanding sugar companies review cane prices upwards to ensure that farmers also benefit from sugar price hikes.

Speaking on Sunday, the National Secretary General of the Kenya Sugarcane Growers Union, (Kensgu), Mr Ezra Olodi said it would only be fair that the farmers also had something to smile about with the high prices experienced in the country.

"The cane prices are still too low and this is discouraging the farmers," he said adding the sugar millers should be compelled to raise prices whenever the cost of the product goes up.

Mr Olodi also urged parliament to do more to ensure that the Sugar (Amendment) bill 2011 is passed to enable the Sugar Arbitration Tribunal execute its judgments.

Ignored courts

Mr Olodi said the farmers had been awarded hefty amounts since 2009 but the sugar factories have "continuously ignored the court decisions with impunity".

"We are afraid the Act that created the court is unclear on what happens when the miller completely disregards the court ruling," said Mr Ezra Okoth, the secretary general of Kensgu.

Meanwhile, a section of sugar cane farmers from Migori county have urged the Government to step in and ‘dismantle cartels’ which they said were operating within the sugar sector and leading to their exploitation.

The farmers drawn from Uriri, Awendo and Rongo districts and who were speaking in Migori town, insisted that the problems currently experienced in the sector had nothing to do with the law but the fact that the industry was being controlled by cartels who exploit them.

At the same time, secondary schools head teachers want sugar millers to allow them purchase sugar directly from the factories to prevent suppliers from exploiting the schools.