By Innocent Atuganyira
In Masindi—-
Kinyara sugarcane out growers are cursing Kinyara Factory over low price, cane dumping while transporting, and the factory taking long to harvest canes, lay down of workers without notification. Out growers have resorted to plans of having own factory.
Cosmas Byaruhanga the Chairperson Masindi Sugarcane out growers Association Limited (MASGAL) explains that since Kinyara Factory resorted to growing their own canes, farmer’s canes have been abandoned, and the factory takes long to harvest them.
“Right now Kinyara has been overwhelmed by canes, because they also resorted to growing their own,” he notes.
Byaruhanga also adds Kinyara fixed their own price which isn’t favoring farmers, canes are dumped on transportation, they take long to harvest burnt canes mostly during dry season, and out grower’s canes are abandoned.
The chairperson hopes once they start their own sugarcane factory their problem will be addressed. He has urged the sugarcane farmers to join cooperatives so that they can head with plans to start their own factory.
Kiiza Kenneth Nyendwoha the LCIII chairperson Budongo sub county says government should institute the cane price because farmers are incurring losses.
He also adds most farmers depend on cane growing as their main activity, and they have been overwhelmed by loans, tuition and other basic needs.
“We were happy when Kinyara made expansion thinking our canes will have market, but since expansion was done, canes prices have reduced, and workers have been laid off without notification,” Nyendwoha noted.
He has appealed to the government to intervene and solve the issue noting Kinyara Factory may become a curse to citizens instead of blessing.
Rose Kirabira the Resident District Commissioner Masindi has expressed her concern, and said Kinyara and out growers should harmonize and solve their problems.
She noted that the management of Kinyara should be brought on board to solve because they all need each other.
“May be there was inadequate canes for the factory, and that’s why Kinyara started cultivating their own field. But there is need for harmonization before setting up another factory because setting up another factory may take long time and needs a lot of process”, She noted.
Efforts to get a comment from Richard Wanok the communications manager Kinyara Factory was futile by the time we filed this story because he didn’t respond to our phone calls for two days.
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