Sugarcane farmers in Central region unhappy about lack of market opportunities

Sugarcane out-growers in the Central Region have threatened to protest over what they describe as “unfair treatment” by management of the Komenda Sugar Factory and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The National Chairman of the Sugarcane Farmers Association, Samuel Mensah, at a media briefing, expressed disappointment at management of the factory, for encouraging them to expand their farms in anticipation of sourcing their sugarcane, only for their hopes to be dashed for lack of market.

He therefore called for a briefing on the true state of the factory. The agitation comes after the Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond announced plans by the government to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to West African Agro Limited, an India-based firm, for a renewable term of 15 to 20 years.

The sugarcane out-growers, at an earlier media briefing, queried where the company sources its sugarcane from and whether the factory is operational. They also questioned when the company and ministry will be engaging the out-growers for their products.

The out-growers said they currently have more than 15 thousand acres of sugarcane in communities including Shama, communities in Wassa East and West, Cape Coast, Gomoa East and West districts.

Mr. Mensah said in 2022, the out-growers in the Komenda Sugar Factory area went on a contractual agreement with the management of the factory to purchase all the sugarcane they cultivated.

According to the Association, the company intended to import raw sugar from Brazil for the refinery which is contrary to the agreement they signed with the ministry.

He said the agreement also stated that anytime the company makes an order for harvesting and fails to buy, it would pay the full cost of the sugarcane. In addition to other agreements, the company has gone back on its words.

Therefore, the out-growers are calling on the company to keep its side of the bargain for peace to prevail.