Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya Sugar Board has called on sugarcane farmers to support a proposed three-month temporary shutdown of domestic sugar mills, a strategic move aimed at addressing the industry’s deep-rooted productivity challenges. The plan, which is currently under public consultation, seeks to allow more time for sugarcane to mature—thereby improving yield quality and restoring competitiveness to a sector long plagued by inefficiencies.

According to Board Chairman Jude Chesire, delaying the harvest by just one month could increase cane output by up to four additional tonnes of sugar per acre, a gain that could significantly raise farmer incomes and reduce dependence on costly sugar imports.

“Our mills are running below capacity because much of the cane harvested is immature and underweight,” said Chesire. “This temporary measure is a short-term sacrifice that will deliver long-term gain for both farmers and the economy.”

The decision comes as domestic sugar production continues to falter, with several mills reporting severe shortages of mature cane. In response, the board is advocating a coordinated pause in milling operations across the country’s key sugar-growing zones—including Western, Nyanza, and parts of Rift Valley—during the typically lean harvest period.

Stakeholders say the move signals a more interventionist approach by the government to revive the struggling industry, which has been under pressure from years of mismanagement, mill debt, and market liberalization. It is also seen as a response to growing public discontent over rising sugar prices and chronic mill closures.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from farmers and unions. While some welcome the chance to recover lost yields and reduce the rush to harvest, others are concerned about the immediate financial implications of delayed payments and idle labor.

The Sugar Board, however, insists the benefits will outweigh the costs. Officials are urging farmers to cooperate and view the closures as part of a broader turnaround strategy aimed at stabilizing local sugar prices, improving quality, and making Kenyan sugar more competitive in the regional market.

“The sustainability of the sugar industry depends on quality cane,” said one official at the forum. “We cannot continue harvesting prematurely and expect different results.”

If approved following the consultation process, the shutdowns are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with a staggered resumption of operations aligned with cane maturity cycles. The plan may also include government support measures such as short-term credit facilities and fertilizer subsidies to cushion smallholder farmers during the pause.

As the debate continues, the move could mark a turning point in Kenya’s sugar policy—one that prioritizes long-term productivity over short-term output, and which positions farmers as key stakeholders in the sector’s recovery.