January 2025 Ca...

INTRODUCTION

As the year progresses, our expectations for the sugar industry continue to rise. The Kenya Sugar Board remains steadfast in its efforts to transition from a tonnage-based to a quality-based payment system. We are optimistic that this shift will soon bring smiles to farmers as sugar factories recover and maximize production. Significant efforts are being made to ensure this transition is achieved promptly.

Let's examine the January 2025 cane delivery data across the country, as represented by the following regions. Although challenges such as the harvesting of immature cane and cane shortages persists in some regions, we are encouraged that the Kenya Sugar Board and millers have collaborated to implement measures aimed at resolving these issues.

ANALYSED PARAMETERS

Pol which is the sucrose content in the cane juice. It’s also the essential factor in determining the sugar yield from cane.

Moisture. Represents the amount of water present in the cane at the time of analysis which is also an essential factor in determination of weight in the cane and also mills extraction and processing efficiency.

Fiber content. This the non- sucrose content organic material in the cane. While it is important for the structural integrity, excessive fiber can also hinder the process of extraction and reduce sugar recovery.

The total number of NIRs samples analyzed across all regions for this reporting month is 596.

The regions are represented by the CTUs as follows,

Western region (Butali CTU, Nzoia CTU, Mumias CTU and West Kenya CTU)

Nyanza Region (Kibos CTU, Chemilil CTU, Muhoroni CTU)

South Nyanza Region (Sony CTU, Transmara CTU and Sukari CTU)

Coast Region (Kwale CTU)

The table below represent an average NIRs analysis for cane pol, moisture and fiber within different regions, for the month of January 2025.

Challenges across Regions

1. Some regions continue to face Cane shortage, forcing farmers to harvest young canes that may not have reached their full maturity. This impacts the overall quality of the cane, leading to lower sucrose content, higher moisture levels, and potentially higher fiber content, which can negatively affect the efficiency of sugar extraction.
2. Inability to sample due to various factors: Some Cane Testing Units (CTUs) faced difficulties in performing sampling due to multiple reasons, including water shortage at the facility, mill breakdowns and civil works that restricted access for delivery trucks to the units. This has disrupted the timely collection of cane samples and delayed the analysis, affecting the accuracy of quality assessments across the regions.
3.  Kwale, Kibos and Sukari CTUs delays: kwale CTU has yet to commence sampling since July 2024, while Sukari and kibos CTUs faces accessibility challenges creating a gap in quality analysis data from this critical region. Delays in sampling affect the overall completeness of the quality analysis, leading to an incomplete picture of the sugarcane quality across the country.
4. Integration between CTUs and Mills weighbridge: There is a need to establish a better connection between the CTUs and the mills' weighbridge systems. Linking these two systems would facilitate the seamless capture of consignment details, ensuring that cane quality data is accurately recorded and that the movement of cane can be monitored efficiently.
5. Delays in cane supply and sample analysis: In some CTUs, cane deliveries occur later in the afternoon, which limits the time available for analyzing samples. As a result, fewer samples can be processed, leading to a reduced dataset for quality analysis. This issue needs to be addressed to ensure more consistent sampling and analysis.
6. Frequent Mill breakdowns: In some factories, frequent breakdowns have led to stoppages in cane deliveries, creating long periods where no cane analysis could take place. This inconsistency in mill operations severely hampers the ability to gather timely and reliable data on cane quality.

Recommendations

1. Address cane shortage through better planning and resource allocation: Farmers should be encouraged to adopt better crop management practices to avoid early harvesting of young canes. Additionally, incentives can be provided to ensure a more consistent supply of mature cane to mills, ensuring the efficient extraction of sugar and improving overall cane quality.
2. Improve access for CTUs and timely sampling: To prevent sampling disruptions, efforts should be made to maintain open access to CTUs. This may involve coordinating with civil authorities to prioritize the smooth movement of trucks during the harvest season. Backup plans should be in place to mitigate issues related to mill breakdowns or roadwork that could affect the timely collection of samples.
3. Expedite the commencement of sampling at Kibos and Sukari CTUs: The relevant authorities should ensure that the Kibos and Sukari CTUs begins its sampling as soon as possible to avoid further data gaps. Adequate resources and support should be provided to get the unit operational without delay.
4. Integrate CTUs with Mills' weighbridge systems: To streamline data collection, it is essential to integrate the CTUs with the mills' weighbridge systems. This integration will automate the capture of consignment details, ensuring better traceability of cane quality and improving the efficiency of the quality analysis process.
5. Ensure timely cane deliveries: Mill operators and farmers should collaborate to ensure that cane deliveries are made earlier in the day, giving more time for analysis. Clear communication channels should be established to coordinate delivery schedules effectively, ensuring that the CTUs can process an optimal number of samples each day.
6. Invest in Mill Maintenance and Operational Reliability: Mills should prioritize regular maintenance to reduce the frequency of breakdowns. Establishing preventative maintenance programs and investing in backup machinery can ensure that production continues without interruption, thus minimizing delays in cane deliveries and analysis

CONCLUSION

While challenges remain, the concerted efforts by the Kenya Sugar Board, millers, and the government are promising. With continued collaboration and adherence to best practices, the sugar industry is poised for a successful transition to a quality-based payment system, benefiting farmers and enhancing production.

PREPARED BY.

ETHERLY BARASA

NZOIA CTU