Migori cane farmers postpone demonstrations

Sugarcane farmers in Migori County have postponed their countywide demonstration set for Monday, June 13th to June 24th after the Sony Sugar Company  called for a crisis meeting with the Federation of Sugarcane Farmers officials  to solve the standoff ahead of the visit by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Willy Bett.

Sony Sugar Company, through a letter dated 9th June 2016, called for a consultative meeting on June 12th to discuss issues of mutual benefit between the company and the farmers before the CS visits on June 17th, 2016.

Speaking to Radio Ramogi, Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Secretary General Ezra Okoth said they will attend the meeting as requested by Sony Sugar Company but maintained that their stand will not be compromised.

Okoth said they are expecting a positive response from the Agriculture CS  over some of the issues they had raised with his office concerning the Sony Sugar Company.

The Sony Sugar Company has been at loggerhead with the farmers over the deduction of Ksh 1,000 per tone on burnt cane, over mature cane, an allegedly non-performing Board of Directors among other issues that purposed the farmers to call for a demonstration against the company.

Report by George Juma