Komenda Sugar Factory seeks sugarcane from farmers

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has called on sugarcane farmers within a 100kilometre radius or six hours drive of the Komenda Sugar Factory to arrange selling their sugarcane to the factory and thus enable it to become a success.

The factory, whose construction began in August 2014, is now near completion and there is a need to test-run the facility before the official handing over and inauguration expected in May 2016.

The test-run is to ensure the machines are tested, and also enable some of the few operational staff to gain a better understanding of the factory’s operations.

The governments of Ghana and India, acting through the EXIM Bank of India, approved in 2013 US$35million for the establishment of a new sugar factory to produce 150,000 metric tonnes of sugar per year, and 1.0MW surplus power from factory-waste at Komenda.

In view of this the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Komenda Sugar Company, and the CEDECOM have come out with a proposed competitive price for the purchase of sugar cane to feed the factory. Already, some farmers are receiving advances from the sugar company to reserve their produce for the factory.

These bodies are therefore calling on sugarcane farmers within the 100 kilometre radius or farmers elsewhere whose cane can reach the factory within six hours of cutting to call on the following numbers for further discussion: 0209909054 or 0506295822.

The following measures have been put in place to ensure sanity in the entire value chain:

GH?60 will be paid by the Sugar Company for a metric tonne (MT) at the farm gate Sugarcane farmers will be paid a fulfillment bonus of GH?10/MT for achieving an agreed and registered quantity of cane supplied Harvesting and binding will be at the farmers own cost 1% deduction from the gross price on net weight toward binding materials Transportation from the farm gate to the factory will be the responsibility of Komenda Sugar factory Payment on net weight supplied will be done after deduction of any amount advanced to sugarcane farmers The sugarcane price will be subject to change depending on prevailing sugar and sugarcane market price.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry is entreating existing and new sugarcane farmers to see the Komenda sugar factory’s opening as an opportunity to expand and cultivate more sugarcane; not only to feed the factory but also enhance their living conditions.

It must be observed that aside from the numerous youth who will be employed to work in the factory, farmers stand a chance of benefitting immensely from the factory. Some of the benefits to farmers will include supply of new sugarcane plant varieties, and an exposure to best agricultural practices. Equally, with the new price it will eliminate the old system where there was no standard price -- and even in some instances prices varied from time to time and farmer to farmer.

Farmers are therefore being advised to plant sugarcane in wider rows to maintain optimum population.

The opening of the Komenda Sugar Factory will also benefit local distilleries immensely, since they can also get their molasses which has higher alcohol content and is also cheaper from the factory; thereby saving them from using local methods to ferment the cane-juice.