Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe (left)And Bungoma Senator David Wakoli…Photo/IP
NAIROBI, Kenya (IP)
Bungoma Senator David Wakoli on Tuesday held a consultative meeting with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to address challenges facing sugar, dairy and coffee farmers, with a focus on Bungoma County.
Wakoli said the talks centered on the welfare of workers at leased government sugar factories, delayed payments to sugarcane farmers and pending pensions for retired employees in the sector.
The senator raised concerns over the status of workers in factories currently under lease agreements, calling for safeguards to protect jobs and ensure timely remuneration.
He also pressed for faster payment mechanisms for sugarcane farmers, many of whom depend on the crop as their primary source of income.
The meeting also delved into challenges in the dairy industry, particularly in Bungoma County.
Wakoli said discussions focused on the availability of affordable or subsidized semen to boost livestock productivity, the need for improved milk pricing frameworks and the provision of milk coolers to farmer cooperative societies to reduce post-harvest losses.
Additionally, the two leaders discussed the urgency of subsidized fertilizer distribution during the current planting season to cushion farmers against rising input costs.
On the coffee sector, Wakoli highlighted concerns over the implementation of the Coffee Bill, saying farmers — especially in Bungoma County — continue to face exploitation by cartels offering low prices.
He urged the ministry to strengthen collaboration with grassroots cooperatives to protect growers and ensure fair returns.
A key outcome of the meeting, Wakoli said, was the need to revamp agricultural extension services at the grassroots level to improve productivity and restore growth in the sector.
He reiterated his commitment to pushing for reforms aimed at improving farmers’ livelihoods and stabilizing key agricultural value chains.
