KSB told to involve farmers to hit targets

Sugar cane farmers from West Kenya and Butali sugar growing zones in Kakamega County have advised Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) to involve all stakeholders in the industry in its activities if the goals of re-establishing the board are to be achieved.

The farmers led by Butali Sugar Out-grower Company (BOCO) Director William Kopi said yesterday that route taken by KSB of sidelining other key stakeholders in the industry in its matters would see the board activities come to nought.

Kopi particular took issue with the board’s move to ignore Kenya National Union Federation of Sugarcane Farmers terming it dangerous bearing in mind that it was the one that was on the forefront in the quest of establishing KSB.

“KSB should involve all the stakeholders especially the federation as it was the apex body that really fought for the rights of farmers when the board was abolished. It’s the same federation that ensured the re-establishing of the board . The continued sidelining of the federation might prove costly,” warned Kopi.

The farmer’s representative said this during a public participation meeting organized by KSB at Butali market. It was aimed at taking through farmer through the Board Sugar Development Fund operation manual.

Kopi however differed with a section of chapters of the manual which he said were discriminating against the farmer.

He rubbished the section requiring farmers to have a minimum 1 Hectare of land for them to access cane development and productivity enhancement loans from fund.

Said Kopi: “Most of of our farmers have parcels of land that are less than that meaning they won’t benefit from the fund.”