• The farmers, millers claim there have been incidences of unlicensed importation of sugar from neighboring Uganda before the custom window was opened last Friday.
Sugar cane stakeholders from Western Kenya now want Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) to come clear on reports of unlicensed and illegal sugar imports in the region.
The farmers, millers claim there have been incidences of unlicensed importation of sugar from neighboring Uganda before the custom window was opened last Friday.
The stakeholders expressed fear that the illegal sugar has already flooded markets in Western and Nyanza regions.
They cite Bungoma, Mukenya, Masbrago, New Adatia, Mahdhav, Kiminini, Wananchi Stores, Super Store Minimax, Misiku, Kitale, Charangani and Jaralam as some of the areas the imports can be traced to.
They expressed fear that the influx will kill local production and negatively affect the economy which is already suffering due to Coronavirus pandemic.
Bungoma Governor and Sugar Task Force member Wycliff Wangamati said farmers will be the biggest losers if nothing is done to correct the anomaly.
“The moment you open up the importation window it brings negative impact on farmers because prices will fall. This in-turn will mean that local farmers lose significantly. We need to engage the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture over this crisis,” Wangamati said.
Nzoia Sugar chairman Joash Wamang’oli said AFFA to move with speed and protect the vulnerable farmers who will be mostly affected.
“Those importing sugar want to kill the local industries. We won’t have money to pay farmers. We are calling upon AFFA to protect Farmers and need for sugar Report enforced,” he said.
Saulo Busolo, Kenya National Alliance of Sugarcane Farmers chairman said the sugar industry in the regions is staring at an imminent collapse calling on President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider giving stimulus to farmers.
“This will completely collapse the sector. Why can’t the Government protect its very own farmers and local industries. Farmers should also be given stimulus by Uhuru Kenyatta due to effects of the pandemic,” Busolo said.
The farmers drawn from Nzoia, Butali, and West Kenya Sugar Zones said the illegal importation is not the first in the region, a move they noted is pushing them to huge losses.