Bungoma Governor, Kenneth Lusaka has announced that Kakamega County will next week host the Sugar Conference to look into a sugar task force report on the ailing sugar industry.
Governors drawn from the Sugar Belt region and other stakeholders will attend the conference to deliberate on the Sugar Task Force report.
The report was prepared by a taskforce committee chaired by former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and former Agriculture Cabinet secretary.
Speaking in Kisumu, Lusaka said that the conference will look into the report that came up with short-term and long-term measures aimed at reviving the industry.
Further, he said sugarcane growing remains the backbone of the region’s economy and efforts must be put in place to rejuvenate the sector.
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The report fronted payment of sugarcane farmers their dues as a short-term measure to deter them from abandoning farming cane to other cash and food crops.
Additionally, it addressed cane shortage as a long-term measure with the committee recommending a two-year long-term plan to develop cane to help sustain the industry.
Currently, many mills are grounded due to a lack of raw materials.
President William Ruto wrote off Kes 117 billion debts accrued by the five state mills last week during his tour to the western region.
The mills include Miwani, Nzoia, Sony, Chemelil and Muhoroni.
