Nzoia promises to harvest all canes

Nzoia Sugar Company has promised its contracted farmers that it will harvest all mature canes above 24 months before closing down for an annual maintenance in early September.

The firm's acting Managing Director Godfrey Wanyonyi called on farmers to be patient as they prepare to harvest 2,847 hectares of sugarcane.

Addressing the press in his office yesterday, Wanyonyi said the delay to harvest sugarcane from its contracted farmers has been occasioned by good payment to farmers.

"Because of the good payment, many farmers are engaged in sugarcane growing which surpasses the firm's milling ability. This has made it difficult to harvest all the cane at ago. Our efforts to have Mumias and West Kenya sugar Companies help us in cane crushing has not succeeded," he said.

The MD also blamed the influx of cheap sugar from the neighbouring countries which has made it difficult for the local factories to sell its sugar.

Currently Nzoia Sugar is still holding over 160,000 bags of sugar in its warehouse due to lack of market for the produce.