Sugar import ban rekindles hope among cane farmers
A section of sugarcane farmers from Western Kenya have welcomed the latest directive by the government to stop sugar imports, terming it as an important step towards reviving local industry and improving earnings. The farmers in Lugari Sub-County, Kakamega County, asserted that imported sugar had for long undermined locally produced sugar by creating unfair competition […] The post Sugar import…
Sugarcane farmers in Western Kenya are expressing optimism after the government announced a ban on importing sugar, believing it will help revive their industry and increase their earnings. The move, which comes after local millers have struggled to compete with cheap imported sugar, aims to create a more stable market for the farmers.
Robert Maindi, a sugarcane farmer in Lugari Sub-County, said that the influx of imported sugar has made it difficult for local mills to find reliable customers for their product, as the cheap foreign sugar drags down sales. Juliet Achievi, a farmer, added that sugarcane farming has become less attractive due to high costs, delayed payments, and a lack of a consistent market for her crop.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe recently instructed the Kenya Sugar Board to stop granting new licenses for sugar imports, citing Kenya's increased domestic production as an adequate supply for the nation. Kagwe emphasized that the government is committed to transforming Kenya into a net exporter of sugar, by expanding local production and improving the efficiency of the industry.
Farmers hope that the ban on sugar imports will restore confidence in sugarcane farming and enable them to earn better incomes from their labor.
Written by urgent.news from KBC's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
