The farmers note that, unlike the bureaucratic system of selling sugarcane, which involves powerful middlemen to procure sale permits at the expense of smallholder farmers, cocoa exporters directly purchase the fruits from the farmers, hence enabling them to individually negotiate for competitive prices.
The ban was later lifted, but with strict conditions on exporters as Kenyan authorities sought to curb shipping in of the cancer-causing aflatoxins. The country's agriculture ministry said that all maize importers would be required to be registered, and possess a certificate of conformity on aflatoxin levels for every consignment. The traders are also expected to issue details of their warehouses clearly explaining the mode of storage and drying.
The Sugar Act seeks to provide for the development, regulation and promotion of the sugar industry and equally address pricing of sugarcane through a specific formula. It also established a sugar board a corporate body with a mandate to regulate the Sugar industry and ensure access to resources.
Led by their Chairperson, Majid Magumba, the Fishermen say they don’t have money to service the loans they acquired to inject in the enterprise since their main source of income has been crashed.
Abdullah Luwangula, a farmer from Luuka district says the influence of politicians has jeopardised the industry as farmers stuck with mature cane are exploited and forced to sell their cane cheaply to middlemen.
Busiro North which includes Sub Counties of Kakiri, Masulita and Namuyuma is known to have vast pieces of land much of which lie idol although it’s occupants are hard hit with poverty. The area with fertile soils is part of the Luweero Triangle which was greatly affected by the 1980 bush war and for the last thirty years, the area has remained almost less productive with residents blaming all their misfortunes to the war.
Eva Namwase, a cane farmer Kaliro district, said that a part from under payment, factories take long to weigh their cane and at times reject it citing poor quality.
Museveni noted that although sugar mills within Busoga region are suffering raw material scarcity due to the increased number of mills, there is an increase in the number of cane farmers who lack where to sell their harvest.
Eng. Nicholas Lubanga, one of the officials from the Water and Environment Ministry overseeing the project, says the mistakes that lead to loss of the crops could be expected since it was the first time for the farmers to interface with irrigation technology.
Tilapia lake virus has been reported in countries like Kenya, and Egypt where it is believed to stop fish multiplication resulting into fish depletion from the lake and farms at large.
Under the MoU, the farmers are required to supply 600 tons of mature sugarcane to the company each day for a period of three months. They will receive Kenya Shillings 4,055 (approximately UGX 146,716) for a ton of cane, two days after delivery. Only farmers registered with the association will be allowed to supply cane upon endorsement by their chairperson.
The farmers under their umbrella; Busoga Sugarcane Out Growers’ Association, argue that the cost of production in terms of fertilizers, cultivation, and transportation of cane from farms to the mills is higher than the payments farmers receive at the end of the chain.
Rt. Rev. Samson Naimanhe, the Bishop of Busoga Diocese who led the thanksgiving service, called for the sensitisation of cane farmers in the region on each clause in the bill before it is discussed by parliament.
James Rwothongeyo, the West Nile Regional Manager Cotton Development Organization-CDO advises farmers to desist from selling their harvest to mobile buyers because of the proliferation of the counterfeit currency and fake weighing scales.
Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the incumbent BCU Board Chairperson, said the decision by police to block the meeting took them by surprise since they were not served by any court order as claimed by Police.
Our reporter visited the four processing plants early this week and found all of them under lock and key. For example at the Rwimi Maize mill that is found in Karambi village, residents say the machine broke down about two months ago.
Alex Nviri, the LC V Chairperson Buvuma district, says acknowledges the sorry state of the ferry. According to Nviri, Uganda National Roads Authority-UNRA promised to replace the ferry with the one that has been operating in Kalangala, which is under repair at Luzira.
