Sugar factories fight over sugarcane

A crane removes canes that had been loaded on tractor ready to be delivered at Busia Sugar Industries. (Photo Odanga/Standard

KAKAMEGA, KENYA: Drivers of tractors that were loaded with sugarcane to deliver at Busia Sugar Industry were forced to offload them in the farm after West Kenya’s Olepito Sugar factory protested over cane poaching.

The cane had been harvested from 10 acres of land in Segero, Nambale constituency. Police officers from Nambale arrived promptly to cool-down the situation that was almost turning tragic.

The Agriculture Manager at Olepito Sugar factory Titus Ondigo accused Busia Sugar of cane poaching with impunity.

According to Ondigo, the factory spent much money in cane development on for competition to poach, he claimed.

He asked other sugar millers together with farmers to adhere to the contract signed between farmer and the factory to guarantee level playground for all players in the sugar sub-sector.

 “We developed the canes and the contracts between the farmers are available but our competitors are sweet-talking some farmers who end up harvesting sugarcane that is yet to mature,” said Ondigo.

He warned farmers not to be tricked by brokers as they risk recording losses whenever their cane is harvested prematurely.