The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has issued directives to suspend the sugarcane crushing operations in the country due to a shortage of cane, reports Standard Media.
Jude Chesire, AFA Ag Director (sugar directorate) issued the orders after conducting a meeting of the stakeholders.
As soon as the directive was issued, the transportation of cane to the major players like Nzoia, Mumias Sugar, West Kenya, Butali, Sony and Chemelil was reported as minimal to zero.
Charles Atyang, chairman of the Kenya Association of Sugarcane and Allied Products (Kasap) stated that the directive was in time as there was a severe shortage of cane.
“The National government has not paid attention to the growth of the sugar sector which has led to the increase in the problem of sugar shortage,” he said.
Cane grown in the fields need at least three months to mature and some millers are harvesting immature cane due to shortage, said Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association Secretary General Richard Ogendo.
