The Kenyan government plans to import 180,000 metric tons of sugar to keep a check on the rising sugar prices, reports Citizen Digital.
The scarcity of the cane that has affected the crushing operations of the sugar mills resulting in lower output is the main reason behind the price rise, said Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi.
“This is unfortunate that we have to import sugar but we are procuring 180,000 metric tons of sugar to ensure that consumers get sugar at affordable prices,” he said.
“Regional markets are experiencing similar situations so we have to import sugar from other markets,” he said.
“Our mills are not producing and crushing enough sugar so we have to import sugar within and outside COMESA,” said Linturi.
“Increasing area under cane cultivation is the only solution to resolve this problem. We urge farmers to cooperate with the mills that are crushing cane lower than their capacity,” he said.
