Cane farmers to get Ksh 10M from Sony Sugar

Cane farmers to get Ksh 10M from Sony Sugar

Sony Sugar Company has set aside Ksh10 million to compensate farmers whose cane was burnt by unknown arsonist in the previous seasons.

The company Managing Director Jane Pamela said: “The Company has taken an initiative to motivate the farmers and to reduce the losses incurred.”
She said most of the cane that was burnt dried up in the farms since the company did not have a better plan for it while that harvested was of poor quality.

However, Sony Sugar says it is yet to develop a plan to pay farmers as most of them have outstanding loans.

The farmers are usually deducted a certain percentage from their proceeds to cater for loans payment.

The MD said that the company would not accept burnt cane as stipulated in its regulations saying that it undermined the quality of sugar.

She also encouraged farmers to ensure they do not harvest burnt cane saying that the tonnage is always lower than that of fresh one.

Speaking to Radio Ramogi on phone, the Kenya Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Secretary General Ezra Okoth said the initiative follows a meeting between the federation and the company that was as a result of concerns raised by affected farmers.

He, however, challenged the farmers to ensure they guard their cane against arsonist saying the federation would not intervene again.

The allocation by Sony Sugar follows the issuance of Ksh 447 million last month by President Uhuru Kenyatta to offset arrears for cane delivered to sugar factories.

The farmers said the amount by the President will clear arrears that have piled up for the last six months.

Kenya National Sugarcane Farmers Association Deputy Secretary General Simon Wesechere said a grower spent at least Ksh 67, 000 per acre.

“It is a gesture we applaud. However, the management of sugar firms must be more efficient in future,” said Wesechere.

Kenya National Sugarcane Farmers Union Chairman Ezra Okoth said that the farmers felt motivated to continue with cane farming after the money was issued.

By George Omondi Juma / Written by Jemimah Gathoni

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sugarcane farmers sony sugar company Kenya National Sugarcane Farmers Union

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