BY MANUEL ODENY

Awendo constituency politician Isca Oluoch has urged sugarcane farmers who had abandoned the crop to reconsider a comeback after recent government move on the sector.

Oluoch termed as historic issuance of bonuses to sugarcane farmers by President William Ruto and the enactment of the Sugar Act which she said will spur development.

“I grew up in cane growing area which ensured i went to school and it has been a backbone of the South Nyanza region economy either directly or indirectly, that is why we laud these recent moves,” she said.

She was speaking in Migori town.

She said in the past sugarcane farms have been grappling with high cost of production, delayed harvest, delayed harvest and poor road networks which will be addressed by the new laws.

“We had farmers who completely abandoned the crop and we have recently tried to bring the crop back which will gain more traction as more investors will join the sector,” she said.

She said sugarcane is the only cash crop in the area and the crop and he new issuance of bonus and putting into law the Sugar Act of 2024 will be a game changer.

“For exampled the sugar levy will help farmers through road and infrastructure development and support of federations which will add more voice in the sector,” she said.

She said the levy will be deducted from sugar wholesalers buying sugar in bulk, and not farmers.

“If we add sugar bonus and dividend based on metrics like ethanol and other by products we will move to be a sugar exporter because for the first time sugar production in the country reached record high,” he said.

“We will also have sugar tribunal which will cut legal costs from both farmers and millers in resolving disputes in addition to research institute for high productivity,” she said.

She said the comeback on committee on sugar pricing will be key in adding power in voicing in addition to the Kenya Sugar Board.