Kenya: Farmers protest slashing of sugarcane prices to Ksh 4,950 per ton

Sugarcane farmers have opposed new rates announced by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) which will see farmgate prices reduce by 3.4pc. In the new rates expected to take effect from this month, AFA has directed millers to pay farmers Ksh 4,950 as opposed to Ksh 5,125 per ton. The Kenya Sugarcane Growers Association (KSGA) and the Kenya National Federation for Sugarcane Farmers Association (KNFSFA) have rejected the new prices saying this was a drawback to the gains that had been achieved under President William Ruto. KSGA Secretary General Richard Ogendo said that the price per ton of sugar had been raised after the president announced reforms in the sector. “The price per ton of cane was Ksh 6,100 after the President announced the reforms in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with sugar stakeholders with the Kenya Kwanza regime. Unfortunately, the price fell to Ksh 5,200, then to Ksh 5,125 and now Ksh 4,950,” he said. Ogendo raised concern that the ...