Kenya Sugar Board CEO Jude Chesire during a past event/COURTESY Sugarcane farmers stand to earn up to Sh72,000 more per acre following a planned three-month shutdown of sugar mills in Kenya’s sugar belt.
While urging farmers to support the temporary closure, Kenya Sugar Board Acting CEO Jude Chesire stated that this strategic move will allow immature cane to fully mature and improve both yields and quality.
Chesire explained that most factories have been operating below capacity, often crushing under-aged cane, which reduces sugar output and farmer earnings.
He said the break would allow farmers to harvest cane at optimal maturity, potentially increasing yields by four tonnes per acre and boosting sucrose content, directly translating into higher payments.
“This is about putting more money directly into farmers’ pockets,” Chesire said.
The shutdown will affect sugar factories in key growing counties like Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Trans Nzoia, and Kisumu.
It is set to begin on July 14.
The Board plans to carry out a two-month cane census during the closure to assess the availability of mature cane and guide future harvesting schedules.
It will also conduct a cane availability survey to assess and align factory milling capacities with actual cane supply in each region.
The survey will guide decisions regarding the resumption of milling operations.
Millers, too, are expected to benefit.
Higher sucrose levels mean they will need less cane to produce a tonne of sugar, lowering operational costs and improving efficiency.
"This is a win-win: better returns for farmers and greater efficiency for millers,” Chesire added.
He also assured stakeholders that the country remains protected from cheap imports through the COMESA sugar safeguards, which have been extended to November 2025.
While the shutdown may pose short-term disruptions, the Sugar Board insists the long-term benefits, better prices, sustainable supply, and a more efficient milling process, make it a necessary sacrifice to revive the struggling sector.
