Farmers in new push against zoning

A stalled tractor loaded with sugarcane it was ferrying to Sukari Sugar Industries in Homa Bay County along Rodi Kopany-Ndhiwa road. Picture taken on 10/3/2019. Farmers complain about delays in harvesting their cane. Stalled tractors have also been blamed for accidents in the area. [Sammy Omingo/Standard]

The entry of a new investor in the sugar industry, delayed payments for deliveries and quest to have a free market are among reasons farmers are in a fresh push against zoning.

So dire is the situation that the farmers have now vowed to storm Kilimo House on Thursday, in their numbers, to demand the removal of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri over delay in releasing the Sugar Task force report.

Speaking during a meeting in Tamu, Muhoroni, at the weekend, farmers drawn from Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley vented their frustrations over the proposal to introduce zoning.

They threatened to stop growing sugarcane and venture into other crops if they are not allowed to trade with millers of their choice.

The Government had planned to introduce zoning to address rampant sugarcane poaching, which has been one of the issues affecting the troubled industry.

Zoning ensures sugar factories only buy cane from farmers they have contracted and whose crop they have helped to develop.

No way

Led by Secretary General of the Kenya National Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Charles Atyang, the farmers said they would not accept any attempts to implement zoning.

“Our position is that we do not want zoning and we will not allow it to take place,” said Mr Atyang.

He accused the Lake Region Economic Bloc (Lreb) of being behind the push for zoning. 

Ken Odanga, a farmer, said there is no investor who is willing to help farmers develop their crops with the aim of helping them improve their livelihoods.

“We must not accept zoning. The contract that any farmer should have with a miller is money. We will not be forced to sell our cane to people who are not willing to pay us,” said Mr Odanga.

His comments were shared with other farmers.

“We do not embrace Lreb and they will not force us to sell to sugar factories who have not been paying farmers after deliveries,” said Andrew Bett, a farmer from Kericho.

Kenya National Sugarcane Growers Union Secretary General Richard Ogendo said farmers want Kiunjuri removed because they feel he is responsible for the challenges facing them.

“We will go to Kilimo House and demand the release of the report of the sugar task force and also the removal of Kiunjuri,” said Ogendo.