Kenya Sugar Board cracks down on weighbridge fraud as farmers lose up to 3 tonnes per trailer
For years, sugarcane farmers have raised concerns over manipulation of weighbridges, a practice that has denied growers payment for significant quantities of cane delivered to millers. The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) says some farmers have been losing as much as three tonnes of sugarcane per trailer through alleged weighbridge malpractices, translating into substantial financial losses […]
The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) is tackling allegations of weighbridge fraud in Kenya's sugar industry, which has left farmers potentially losing up to three tonnes of sugarcane per trailer. According to KSB, some farmers have been shortchanged due to alleged malpractices at weighbridges used to measure the weight of the cane delivered to mills.
To combat this, the regulator is procuring mobile weighbridges that will independently verify the weight of cane at various points in the supply chain, aiming to ensure farmers are paid accurately. The move follows persistent complaints from sugarcane growers about discrepancies between the amount of cane they believe they deliver and what is recorded by millers.
KSB is also investing in cane-testing units to develop a payment system that considers the quality and sugar content of cane, rather than just its weight. Additionally, millers are required to pay farmers within seven days of delivery, with penalties for delays. The reforms are part of efforts to boost Kenya's sugar industry, increase domestic production, and reduce reliance on imported sugar.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
