The National sugar industry stakeholders
Absence of regulations in the sugar industry has been blamed
for the myriad of challenges facing the sector in the country. This was
revealed today during a national sugar industry stakeholders
consultative meeting held in Kisumu.
The meeting which brought together Cabinet secretary for Agriculture,Willy Bett,Governors from the Lake Region Economic Block,MPs,Agriculture CECMs,MCAs, sugar millers and farmers representatives,noted with a lot of concern how lack of a clear sub sector regulatory framework has perpetrated ills such as illegal importation of cheap sugar and heavy debt burden which have greatly affected the local industry.
The meeting came up with a raft of resolutions key among them the re-establishment of a sugar development fund,privatisation of state owned sugar millers,restoration of extension services and ending illegal importation of sugar.
Kericho Deputy Governor, H.E.Susan Kikwai who represented H.E.Governor, Prof.Paul Chepkwony called for a renewal of commitment between the county governments and the national government in ensuring that policies regulating the sugar industry were implemented to the letter for the sake of helping farmers reap maximum benefits from their produce. According to Bett,the suspicion and integrity issues among the key players in the sugar sector has greatly affected the industry.
The meeting which brought together Cabinet secretary for Agriculture,Willy Bett,Governors from the Lake Region Economic Block,MPs,Agriculture CECMs,MCAs, sugar millers and farmers representatives,noted with a lot of concern how lack of a clear sub sector regulatory framework has perpetrated ills such as illegal importation of cheap sugar and heavy debt burden which have greatly affected the local industry.
The meeting came up with a raft of resolutions key among them the re-establishment of a sugar development fund,privatisation of state owned sugar millers,restoration of extension services and ending illegal importation of sugar.
Kericho Deputy Governor, H.E.Susan Kikwai who represented H.E.Governor, Prof.Paul Chepkwony called for a renewal of commitment between the county governments and the national government in ensuring that policies regulating the sugar industry were implemented to the letter for the sake of helping farmers reap maximum benefits from their produce. According to Bett,the suspicion and integrity issues among the key players in the sugar sector has greatly affected the industry.
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