Farmers oppose closing of sugar factories in Western region

Sugarcane farmers in the entire sugar belt are lamenting a directive by the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA) to suspend operations in all sugar companies in the country.

Speaking in Mumias and Matungu, contracted farmers said they’re stranded with mature cane on their farms, without a market after the closure of millers.

The farmers said the decision will affect their businesses and lead to losses.

“Miwa zangu ziko karibu kukatwa, sasa ninashangaa wanapoongeza miezi nne, miwa zangu zitaenda wapi?” Philis Mukabana, a sugarcane farmer, posed.

Another farmer, Morris Kudondo, added: “Tukifungiwa miwa sisi watu wa Western, hakuna cash-crop ingine sisi tunapata…ata mtoto kuenda shule unamwambia miwa zikikua utaenda secondary.”

The Authority said the decision was arrived at due to an acute shortage of raw materials, leading to poaching by other millers.