By Dorothy Musyoka
President William Ruto has announced the government’s commitment to boosting the agricultural sector in Kenya as the backbone of the country’s economy and achieving food security.
“Consequently, we have worked effectively with farmers and other food system value chains to transform their productivity beyond subsistence and enhance the country’s food security,” said President Ruto.
The sugar industry is a highly strategic subsector, with its value chain serving as the backbone of the local economies in Kenya’s sugar belt causing the government to implement measures to revive the sector.
“For this reason we have firmly committed to ensure that the sugar industry returns maximum value to all actors into its value chains beginning with initial foundation entrepreneur, the cane grower,” said President Ruto.
“We have the potential to become competitive regionally, globally by utilizing unique capacity of cooperatives to mobilize production scale through the provision of government supported extension services,” added the President.
Speaking during the 61st Madaraka Day Celebrations held in Bungoma County, President Ruto noted that in efforts to revive the sugar industry, the government has written off Kshs.110 billion sugar factory debts a model that will ensure prompt payment for cane deliveries by farmers.
“We have written off Kshs. 110 billion worth of sugar factory debts accumulated over the last 40 years, a new leasing model that will guarantee prompt payment for cane deliveries by farmers, timely wages for factory workers, and a bonus to sugarcane farmers every end of year like other crops is underway,” noted President Ruto.
As part of the government’s commitment to invest Kshs.2 billion into sugarcane development through state-owned millers upon leasing completion, the head of state announced the government’s approval of Kshs.600 million for seed cane development.
“I am proud to announce the government has approved the first ranch of Kshs.600 million for seed development and the National Treasury will release the funds shortly,” the head of state reiterated.
In February the head of state waved over Kshs.50 billion debt for Nzoia Sugar Company among other companies in Western Region.