Kenya: Cane farmers in Nyando propose to delay quality-based payment system

Kisumu — Sugarcane farmers within the Nyando Sugarbelt have proposed a two-year delay before the roll out of the Quality-Based Cane Payment System (QBCPS). The farmers converged in Kisumu on Thursday during a public participation on the QBCPS Regulations 2023. The farmers however expressed optimism for the new method of payments for their cane based on the sucrose content. Atyang Atyang, a farmer in Muhoroni, said the regulations will cushion farmers from exploitation by millers. He said the paradigm shift in the payments will help farmers to value add their cane. "Millers are stealing from us, the new method will absolutely address that concern," he said. Jane Chirchir, a farmer in Chemelil, however proposed delayed implementation. "Give us two years, so that we prepare our cane ready for sucrose content payments," she said. Chirchir said farmers are ready to embrace the new changes but cautioned against the rush to implement the new payment method. Sucrose content based pricing ...