Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa has voiced strong opposition to the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) directive to reduce the sugarcane price from Ksh 5,125 to Ksh 4,950 for August.

Speaking during the burial of Josephat Ashiachi, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairman for Musanda Ward in Mumias West, Barasa expressed his concerns regarding the AFA proposal, stating that it is oppressive to farmers who are already struggling.

Barasa disturbed

“As the chairman and champion of sugar matters, I am disturbed by the AFA’s proposal to lower the price of a ton of sugarcane. This decision oppresses our farmers.

“I urge my fellow MPs from the Lake Region Economic Block to reject this proposal. We, as sugarcane farmers, strongly oppose this decision,” Barasa stated.

The Agriculture and Food Authority released the new cane price for August earlier this week.

This price reduction is seen as a significant blow to farmers’ income, especially given the high production costs and other ongoing challenges within the industry.

Jude Chesire, Director of the Sugar Directorate, explained that the reduction in cane prices is due to increased sugar production, which has influenced the ex-factory price of sugar.

“Following the expiry of the interim cane pricing committee and in the absence of a Cabinet Secretary to appoint a new one, the price of sugarcane per ton for August is set at Ksh 4,950,” said Chesire.

The memo, dated August 7 and copied to Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono and AFA DG Bruno Linyuru, was released a day before the new Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Mwihia was sworn into office at the State House.

The government typically sets minimum support prices for sugarcane to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their produce.

However, these prices can sometimes fall below the cost of production, putting financial strain on farmers.

Price fluctuations depend on sales, supplies, and demand dictated by dynamic domestic and global trends in the sugar market, which is reliant on production gaps.

This decision to lower cane prices per ton has sparked protests among cane farmers, who demand no less than Ksh 5,500 per ton.

KFS opposes too

Led by Killion Osur, the head of the Kenya Federation of Sugarcane Farmers, the farmers have voiced their strong opposition to the price cuts.

Osur and his fellow farmers argue that the reduced cane price will severely impact their livelihoods, making it difficult for them to sustain their farming operations and discouraging them from investing in increased sugarcane production.

“We are going to mobilize cane farmers to reject the new price set by the regulator,” Osur declared.