Sugar cane out growers from Masindi

Sugar cane out growers from Masindi have asked for Government intervention towards having them incorporated into National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads) programme in order for them to acquire tractors to help them improve on the sugar cane production.

Addressing the Minister of Trade and Industry Hon Amelia Kyambadde who was on a fact finding mission with workers and out growers on Thursday August 17, 2011 at Kinyara Sugar Factory, the Chairman Kinyara Sugar cane Out growers, Kaahwa Solomon informed the Minister that the sugar cane out growers with a member ship of 14000 registered members that produce over 600,000 tonnes of sugar cane had no membership on the board of Kinyara Sugar Factory.

He urged Government to give the 900 hectares of Isimba land to the out growers to enable them to expand sugar cane production noting that they would grow sugar cane thus increase productivity.

Kaahwa further asked Government to give them part of the Isimba land to enable them carry out Research where they will produce variety of sugar cane that matures earlier than the one in Masindi that is maturing at 18 months.

Ramadasan T.H the General Manager Kinyara Sugar Limited said that if the land was given to the out growers, a lot would be involved in land clearing, application of fertilizers adding that with Kinyara factory, they would handle it differently and better and also produce more sugar cane on the 900 hectares of Isimba land.

“If provided fertilizers, some out growers may not even utilize them properly and if not properly done, the production will be affected, Ramadasan urged.

About Isimba Prison, Amelia Kyambadde, the Minister of Trade and Industry said that there was an offer by the producers for the need to construct a modern jail.

She said that since the millers was supposed to improve on the out growers cane, the out growers had to start thinking on the macro level not micro by empowering the Kinyara sugar cane millers

“The out growers in Masindi are so lucky, they even get inputs, this is something that is not happening elsewhere and yet the production is still high, Kyambadde added.

She promised to negotiate with Government and the ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries to ensure that the out growers were availed with tractors to cater for the 5 zones and noted that would also lobby for affiliation at the Sugar cane Training Institute in Tanzania of research to be carried out on the different sugar cane varieties.

She pledged to ensure that multi sectoral committees were put in place to solve the problems sugar cane farmers were facing which would constitute membership from Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Works, and NEMA.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Industry and Technology, Hon. Dr. James Shinyabulo Mutende, the Member of Parliament Masindi Municipality, Hon Ernest Kiiza, the RDC, Maj. Matovu David, the District Chairman Masindi Wilson Mugimba among others.