The leading sugar company in western region, Mumias Sugar Company has announced that it will aid in harvesting and crushing of cane for Nzoia Sugar Company.
The part of a deal between the two sugar companies was reached after a report that Nzoia lacks the capacity to handle all the cane that is readily available for harvesting in the region.
According to the report, Nzoia can only crush 3,100 tons of cane in a span of one day.
Speaking in Mabanga yesterday, Nzoia Sugar Company Chairman Joash Wamang’oli said Mumias would harvest overgrown sugar cane in Bumula, Sang’alo, Mechimeru and Sitikho regions.
He said that the deal will help in harvesting of cane that may have taken them three years to harvest as they lacked enough funds for the exercise.
“We have a surplus of the raw material and we have agreed with Mumias to help us harvest and process it.
Nzoia cannot handle all the cane all alone, this deal will help us pay all our responsible farmers on time after delivering their cane,” said Mr Wamang’oli.
He also said that the consensus reached will now offload them the burden they have been experiencing for a long time.
“This pact will reduce the burden on our shoulders. Many farmers have been complaining that we have delayed harvesting their cane and that is why we have entered into this agreement with Mumias,” he added.
Wamang’oli said delayed harvesting has led to cane poaching which hurts farmers because they sell their produce at a throw away price hence registering massive losses.
Delayed sugarcane harvesting was a major setback hindering the farmers in the region but they will now have something to smile at.
It had stirred a lot of mixed reactions from the farmers involved in the supplying of cane to the company as some of them had threatened to terminate their contract due to delayed harvesting and payment.
