Sugar processed by factories in Western Kenya has topped quality tests conducted last month, as the government moves forward with plans to introduce a system that pays farmers based on the quality of their sugarcane. The tests, carried out by the Sugar Directorate, part of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), revealed that sugarcane from the Western region had a purity score of 87.99%, reports Nation.
The directorate analyzed 851 samples from Western, Nyanza, South Nyanza, and Coast regions, focusing on sucrose content, moisture levels, and fibre in the sugarcane juice. The AFA has installed Cane Testing Units at factories to support a new payment system based on cane quality. Once implemented, this system would pay farmers based on the sugar content of their crop rather than its weight, as outlined in the 2018 Crops (Sugar) Regulations, which are yet to take effect.
In the most recent tests, four factories in Western Kenya—Butali, Mumias, Nzoia, and West Kenya—achieved the highest purity score of 87.99%. Factories in South Nyanza, including Sony, Transmara, and Sukari, scored 82.87%, while those in Nyanza, such as Kibos, Chemelil, and Muhoroni, had a score of 81.73%. The Coast region did not provide data due to factory closures caused by a shortage of sugarcane and an inability to keep the mills running throughout the year.
The Sugar Directorate has urged factories to improve the logistics of sugarcane transportation to ensure timely delivery for processing and advised farmers to use better harvesting techniques to reduce waste. “Setting up a competitive mill in the Coast region would ensure continuous production and prevent the wastage of mature sugarcane,” the directorate noted.
The Sugar Pricing Committee is currently responsible for setting the minimum prices that millers pay farmers. However, many farmers have argued that these prices are too low to cover their production costs. The directorate believes that moving to a quality-based payment system will help resolve these concerns. “This system will not only benefit farmers but also make the sugar industry more efficient,” it said.
