The government has increased the price of sugarcane following significant pressure from farmers. Cane growers will now receive Sh 5,000 per tonne, up from the previously announced Sh4,950 per tonne, as per the Agriculture and Food Authority’s decision on August 7, reports STAR.
June Chesire, the Acting Director of the Sugar Directorate, initially announced the interim sugar price for August, stating, “Following the expiry of the interim sugar pricing committee and in the absence of a Cabinet Secretary to appoint a new one, the price of cane per tonne for August is set at Sh4,950.”
This declaration elicited wide discontent among various farmers’ organizations and leaders from the sugarcane-growing regions, who claimed the Government was killing the sugar industry. A meeting was held at Kilimo House in Nairobi on Wednesday, culminating in the announcement of a revised price by the sugarcane pricing committee.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja said, “The new price is based on current market conditions characterized by constant changes in sugar prices, production, global trade dynamics, and the need to enhance farmers’ income.” A reduction from the last price of Sh5,125, which expired at the end of July, came into effect on August 22, 2024.
However, Richard Ogendo, the Secretary-General of the Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association, expressed dissatisfaction with the new price, terming it out of touch with the reality on the ground. As much as farmers lauded the Sh50 increment, it is still below the actual cost of producing a tonne of sugarcane.
Ogendo also faulted the process of renewing the sugarcane pricing committee, saying that farmers were never given a chance to propose representatives. He now challenged the CS in Agriculture to implement reforms initiated by President William Ruto, warning that failure could lead to further challenges in the industry. “What the minister has done is to renew the sugarcane pricing committee, but he did not ask farmers to nominate their representatives. Those representing farmers were sent there by other people to represent their interests,” Ogendo observed.
