No end in sight to sugar, maize woes

Two task forces probing sugar and maize sectors have been given more time to look into the woes that have afflicted the industries over time and recommend lasting solutions.

It is the second time that the Ministry of Agriculture has extended the period for the two committees that were initially to give their reports by December 1, last year but were given up to January 8.

The committees, which operate separately, however, have failed to make headway in their investigations as to what ails the sectors.

The teams made up of senior national and county government officials and industry players were formed in October following a presidential directive to the ministry to sort out the mess.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri in a Kenya Gazette notice last Friday said he had extended the period for the task forces to March 31.

The committee on maize is led by Mr Kiunjuri and Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago. It was formed after reports that money set aside to pay farmers for maize deliveries to National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) had been paid to brokers that had imported maize from Uganda.

The task force looking into the sugar issues is chaired by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and made up of representatives from the millers, farmers, national government officials as well as governors from the sugar belt.

The committee suspended its activities in January this year, saying it would only proceed after farmers were paid Sh2.7 billion owed to them by sugar millers.

Farmers had threatened not to participate in public engagements organised by the task force on how to reform the industry until they were paid.

Meanwhile, Mombasa-based Grain Bulk Handlers wants to set up 33 large silos at the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, giving it control of offshore maize import channels.

With a facility in Nairobi, the firm will be able to take advantage of a Government directive that all local cargo haulage be done via the Standard Gauge Railway.

National Environment Management Authority Director General Geoffrey Wakhungu said the firm has sought the authority’s approval for the terminal.