Nairobi, Kenya: The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), acting on behalf of the government, has approved the examination and harvesting of mature sugarcane to address the ongoing scarcity of sugar, according to kenyanews.
Kello Harsama, the Principal Secretary for Crops Development, clarified that AFA’s directive to halt sugar factory operations was designed to allow time for the sugarcane in farms to mature. This decision, endorsed by the government, aimed to safeguard both farmers and millers.
During a meeting with sugar industry stakeholders at Kilimo House, Harsama elaborated that the government-sanctioned decision aimed to prevent farmers from incurring losses associated with harvesting immature sugarcane. Such immature harvests lead to reduced yields per acre and low sucrose content, resulting in lower payments for farmers.
Harsama noted that regulating sugarcane harvesting was standard practice not only in Kenya but also in other sugar-producing nations like Brazil, Thailand, and those within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region.
