REVITALISE SUGAR SECTOR THROUGH WARD COMMITTEES – SAVULA URGES

Kakamega County Deputy Governor H.E Hon. Ayub Savula has implored the County Assembly of Kakamega to constitute a committee in every Ward composed of sugarcane growing farmers in an effort to revitalise the sugar sector in the County.

Speaking at Bukura on Saturday during the homecoming ceremony of Butsotso South Ward MCA Hon. Gildon Opati Shioso, Hon. Savula said the recently reopened Mumias Sugar Company requires enough raw materials which will only be realized if proper sugarcane development practice is embraced through a joint venture involving the farmers and other key stakeholders in the sector, including the County Government.

The Committee which in his view should be comprised of area MCA, farmers and sugarcane stakeholders, should be formed at the Ward level and be charged with ensuring proper land preparation and successful transportation of the sugarcane to the factory, at no cost.

He added that the County Government will hold talks with the management of Mumias Sugar Company to see to it that cane farmers are paid after every two days of delivering cane to the factory. Farmers, the DG stated, will have to sign a new contract as a way of writing off existing debts.

Further, the Deputy Governor called on the MCAs to protect cane farmers through enactment of a legislation that will moderate importation of sugarcane for milling at the giant sugar company.