Driving from Kericho-to-Kisumu: Kericho has more sugar cane!

[RV Pundit]

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I drove to Kisumu and back....and I was surprised by contrast.From Kapsoit to Kisumu border...about 20kms...you find lush well tendered large sugar farms..and lots of activities (tractors moving up and down)...larger plantation.From border to Ahero..another 20kms..it a sad state of affairs for sugar farming..desolate farms. I bet the same is replicated in Western.

I think the reason we have world most expensive sugar can easily be understood if you drive from Ahero to Kapsoit.

I Know folks from Kericho soin farming sugar cane and few are complaining....you can even see tea farms giving way to Sugar cane. I bet Muhoroni, Soin,Kibos and Agro largely depend on Kericho county sugar.

First reason has to done with acreage....small scale sugar farming is just not profitable...unlike say tea which a poor farmer can make a living out of it daily...sugar is harvested once in 2yrs!

[Georgesoros]

Competition is good. Why should Kenyans pay more to subsidize waste?

[RV Pundit]

I think Sugar industry has gotten a bad reputation that has dissuaded investors while the sector can be really profitable...if tried on areas with enough acreage..western and nyanza is too "squeezed" for sugar farming to make sense.

If Sugar farming was started for example Samburu or Narok...we would be self-sufficient in less than 3 yrs.

It shameful that we have to protect our-self from TZ or Uganda sugar, maize, tobacco, beans and name it.

We should be exporting sugar, beef, maize, beans, wheat..name any agricultural product....at least we can explain why we can't manufacture electronics...but surely Sugar?

Competition is good. Why should Kenyans pay more to subsidize waste?

[Georgesoros]

In my opinion agri products should move freely to create competition. This will give incentives for farmers to invest in the sector using efficient methods.