KENYA – Sugar production in the country is poised to return to regular levels in the last quarter of this year, as the Agriculture and Food Authority has reached an agreement with sugar milling company directors to allow the resumption of operations.
“We have reviewed your request based on the cane availability survey we undertook on September 19, 2023. We hereby approve sugar milling resumption at a low crushing capacity,” the Agriculture and Food Authority stated in a recent communication to the sugar milling companies.
Under the approved terms, the company is authorized to mill its raw materials for a maximum of 15 days per month at a capacity not exceeding 600 Tons of Cane per Day.
This decision comes following discussions during a stakeholders’ meeting held on July 13 in Kisumu, where various issues were deliberated upon by the stakeholders.
One of the key resolutions from that meeting was the temporary cessation of sugarcane milling operations in the Western region to allow for the maturation of sugarcane.
The same meeting determined that milling operations in the Nyando region would be paused for two weeks and subsequently discontinued from July 27 to enable the canes to mature.
However, companies in the Transmara, Sony Sugar, and Sukari industries were permitted to continue with their normal operations due to the availability of mature cane.
Additionally, the forum agreed to conduct sugar cane plantation statistics within two months to assess the state of raw material availability.
Earlier this month, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) had raised concerns about ongoing cane poaching by sugar millers, a practice that contributed to the sugar shortage.
In response, Hon. Cornelly Serem, Chairman of AFA, engaged with representatives of all sugar millers and expressed his concern regarding the rise in cane poaching. He indicated his intention to involve the police in combating this issue.
Serem also revealed that AFA had decided to close mills for four months to ensure the canes matured adequately before milling operations resumed.
The decision was based on studies that showed most of the cane in the field was between 11 to 13 months old and required an additional four months to be ready for crushing.
“The issue of harvesting immature cane will come to an end, and if you continue, your license may be cancelled,” Serem cautioned
This stern warning underscored the authority’s commitment to ensuring sustainable and responsible sugar production practices in the region.
