By NATION TEAMMore by this AuthorChemelil was the first experiment on smallholder sugar production in Kenya, starting operations in 1965. In July 1972, the government made a decision to form the giant Mumias Outgrowers Company (Moco) owned by it, outgrowers, and Mumias Sugar Company. POOR PRODUCTIONToday, this lack of organisation has left sugar factories grappling with problems of lack of cane and spoilt or overgrown cane. In 2014, these five factories produced 321,000 tonnes compared with Malawi’s sole producer Illovo Sugar, formerly owned by Lonrho, whose two factories produced 289,000 tonnes. These figures are a good indicator of the economics of sugar production and how they favour larger farms.

Source: Daily Nation September 19, 2016 20:45 UTC