The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Sugarcane farmers in Nandi County could soon have an additional market for their produce following plans by West Kenya Sugar Company, which operates under the Kabras Sugar brand, to establish a new processing factory in the region.
The proposed facility is planned for Saniak Village in Kamoiywa Location, Chesumei Sub-County, where it will initially process 1,500 tonnes of sugarcane daily.
According to the project’s Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report, the factory’s processing capacity could eventually be expanded to 3,000 tonnes per day.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The planned development will comprise several facilities, including a mill house, power house, sugar house, cane yard, workshops, administrative offices and an effluent treatment and recycling plant.
The investment is expected to generate employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, while encouraging more farmers in Nandi to embrace sugarcane farming as a commercial activity.
The environmental assessment report indicates that the project could improve household incomes and contribute to food security by enabling farmers to earn from sugarcane and invest in other agricultural ventures.
Kabras Sugar says it currently has more than 30,000 acres under sugarcane development through partnerships with farmers in different areas.
However, the proposed factory also presents potential environmental and social challenges that will need to be addressed before and during its operation.
The assessment identifies concerns including dust and emissions, increased demand for water, changes to the natural landscape and ecosystems, cane fires, land ownership and succession disputes, sugarcane spillage and possible delays in paying farmers.
The report recommends various mitigation measures to minimise the environmental and social impact of the project during construction and throughout the factory’s operations.
