Farmers call for neutral meeting point with sugar Task Force

Cane farmers in Busia address media at a local hotel where they called for neutral meeting point with sugar Task Force on January 16,2019. [Photo: Ignatius Odanga/Standard]
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One of the farmers Peter Odima said farmers may give the meeting a wide berth if the Task Force co-chaired by CS Kiunjuri and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya insists to hold them at the factories. “The Task Force is supposed to listen to farmers by organizing event at a neutral place but not to force us to converge at Olepito or Busia Sugar,” he said. Doima further castigated the move by the Task Force to push respective factories to fund for the function and facilitate the farmers who will attend. “The team was constituted by the President therefore our understanding is that the state is funding all the activities, but we are surprised that the factories have asked to shoulder all the costs,” said Odima. Former director of the Busia Out-growers Company (Boco) Lambert Ogochi said farmers allied to a particular sugar factory will attend. Monica Mungala took issues with composition arguing that it was dominated by leaders from one county.SEE ALSO :Farmers threaten to abandon maize as DP Ruto insists on diversification