NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 17 – A total of 163,827 metric tons (MT) of duty-free sugar was imported into the country between January and September this year to cool off the high prices of the commodity.
This comes after the government earlier authorized firms to import 250,000 MT of white and brown sweeteners.
Kenya’s annual national consumption of sugar is estimated at 1.14 million MT, which comprises 980,000 MT (mill brown or white sugar) and 160,000 MT (white refined sugar).
“Kenya has been experiencing a deficit in sugar production. Over the years, the country has relied on COMESA sugar suppliers under the Sugar Safeguard arrangement to meet the deficit,” Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary in a letter to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock.
Currently, the CS says that the sugar industry is facing an acute cane shortage across all zones except for the Transmara catchment area.
“Some factories have been milling immature cane with a low pol% cane of 8 compared to the industry standard of 13.5.”
For the period January to September 2023, the projected production was 450,000 MT. The actual amount of sugar produced during this period is 373,000 MT.
“Local sugar production has drastically reduced, attributed to lack of adequate mature cane. Factories in the Western and Nyando Regions have closed to allow sugarcane in the fields to mature,” the CS added.
To cushion local sugar industries, the government is subsidizing fertilizers for sugarcane farmers, leasing state-owned mills to private investors, and providing planting materials to farmers, among others.
“Implementation of the Presidential Task Force Recommendation on Regional Zoning to enable millers plan better for cane development and facilitate enforcement of cane supply contracts.”
