Sugarcane prices drop by Shs65,000 in Busoga
Sugar millers in Busoga Sub-region are currently buying raw cane from farmers at between Shs175,000 and Shs215,000 per tonne, which is the latest drop in prices over the past seven years.
Since 2017, farmers have been frustrated by the millers’ offer of Shs175,000 per tonne, which further dropped to Shs96,000 in 2021, before jumping to Shs240,000 in 2023 and further dropping by Shs65,000.
Mr Godfrey Naitema, one of the farmers, says he doesn’t see the reason why millers reduce sugarcane prices, and described the Shs65,000 drop as “unfair” and “unacceptable” because they are servicing loans.
“Investing in growing sugarcane is too expensive in terms of buying seedlings and renting land yet we get little profits,” Mr Naitema said in an interview on Tuesday.
The General Secretary Busoga Sugarcane Out growers Association, Mr David Christopher Mombwe, said a drop in sugarcane prices is a sign of “exploiting farmers”.
He said: “All the years I have been in the sugarcane business, it is only profitable to millers. We are being exploited. Millers always reduce sugarcane prices when children are resuming their studies, and after two months, the prices will go up.”
Mr Mombwe wants the government to set a minimum price of Shs250,000 per tonne sugarcane, which he said would stablise the price.
“Even if the millers buy the sugarcane at Shs250,000, they can still get profits,” he said……
