Sugarcane farmers in Busoga threaten to strike
Sugarcane farmers in Busoga under their umbrella organisation, Busoga Sugarcane Out growers Association have resolved not to supply cane to sugar millers in the region after the millers reduced the price of a tonne of sugar cane to Shs 120,000 from Shs 135,000.
In a meeting held at their offices in Kakira the disgruntled out growers said they incur a lot of expenses in production of sugar canes hence seek government's intervention to prevail over the millers.
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In a communication released by the management of Kakira Sugar Works, the new price of sugarcane with effect from June 24 will be Shs 120,000/= from 128,000/= last season.
Other millers across the region have also reduced the price of a tonne of sugarcane from Shs135,000 to Shs 120,000.
The meeting which was attended by hundreds of out growers resolved not to supply their canes to all the millers with effect from July 1 2019 should they fail to revise their prices.
The disgruntled farmers said they incur a lot of expenses in production of canes it is not prudent for the millers to reduce the prices at will.
Isa Budhugo the chairman of the out growers said they are also considering exporting their raw sugarcanes to Kenya where prices are fair.
Sugarcane growing in Busoga has turned into a lucrative business thanks to the many mushrooming sugar factories across the region.
But it has also raised questions about the issue of food insecurity in a sub region where poverty remains rife.
