Cane Farmers, Millers Reach Deal to End Poaching Menace

By Moses Adongo

Sugarcane farmers and millers have finally reached a deal expected to deal with the poaching menace that has for a long time hailed the industry.
In a deal that was brokered by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his Kisumu counterpart Prof. Peter Anyang Nyongo, the agreement will allow farmers to sell their produce to a variety of millers consisting of three factories. In a previous deal, sugarcane farmers were only allowed to sell to one miller irrespective of the terms, prompting cases of poaching by millers who had run out of the raw material.
“While appreciating that we cannot have a completely free market, regional zoning is necessary to both the players as it will ensure that the millers also develop their own sugarcane to meet their milling capacity,” said the Kakamega governor, who is also the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) chairman.
The new contractual deal has zoned sugarcane farmers from Kisumu, Siaya, Kericho and Nandi counties into selling their produce to only Chemelil, Muhoroni, and Kibos sugar companies.
Cane farmers from lower western will take their produce to Mumias, Ole-Pito and Busia sugar millers.
Those drawn from Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori and Narok counties will sell the cane to Sony Sugar, Sukari Industry and Trans Mara Sugar.
“Nzoia, Butali, and West Kenya sugar companies. will cater for cane producers from the Upper Western region which include Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties.
The Kakamega Governor noted that the new deal would be beneficial for both the farmers and millers who have been embroiled into constant wrangles.

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