Sugar mills in the western region are facing a shortage of cane which is leading them to close crushing operations, reports Kenya News.
Most farmers have shifted from cane cultivation to other crops as a result the mills are not operating at full to their crushing capacity, said John Mutunga, chairperson, of the National Assembly Departmental Committee Agriculture and Livestock.
There is a need to amend the policies that will regulate the importation of cane to protect local farmers, said Dr Mutunga while speaking at Busia Sugar factory.
“Poaching, lack of policy framework and unhealthy competition from importers are leading to the shortage of the cane in the region,” he said.
The high cost of agricultural inputs and the failure to regulate farming and trade has led to the shortage of cane in the region, said Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga.
“Most sugar mills are fighting for the sugarcane in Busia as they do not have nuclear estates of their own,” he said.
