Agric. & Environment
Trade Ministry launches digital system to register all sugarcane farmers
Tanna explained that the new Sugar Industry Information Management System (SIIMS) will facilitate the registration of all sugarcane farmers in the country and will help to address most of the challenges in the sugar sector
Sanjay addresses members of the Sugar Council. (Courtesy)
By: Prossy Nandudu, Journalist @New Vision
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The government, through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, in partnership with the National Sugar Stakeholders Council, has developed an Information Technology system that will aggregate data and latest developments in the sector.
This was revealed by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna, while addressing the stakeholders at the launch of the IT system last week in the ministry’s boardroom.
Tanna explained that the new Sugar Industry Information Management System (SIIMS) will facilitate the registration of all sugarcane farmers in the country and will help to address most of the challenges in the sugar sector
"This system will help us to gather and centralise all the data on the sugar sector, integrating the data from the different stages of the sugar value chain, including cane cultivation, harvesting, milling, processing, distribution, and market trends, to provide a holistic view of the industry," Tanna said.
He added that through the system, which is connected to the satellite, government will be able to know all the sugarcane growers in the country, the acreage of sugarcane across the country, the capacity of the sugar millers, and will be used to conduct real-time monitoring to identify bottlenecks and respond promptly to critical issues.
“This is one of the initiatives we are putting in place to address some of the outstanding challenges in the sugar sector, including the low sugarcane yields, harvesting of immature cane, sugarcane poaching, and poor farmer - miller relationships,” Tanna explained.
Tanna also warned millers against underpaying cane farmers and buying sugar cane from unregistered growers, saying failure to follow industry regulations could undermine the sustainability of Uganda’s sugar sector.
With preparations in high gear to roll out the system, Tana asked licensed millers to comply with the law governing the registration of outgrowers, the weighing of sugarcane and payments to farmers, warning that those who contravene the requirements could face fines and imprisonment.
He added that through the system, which is connected to the satellite, government will be able to know all the sugarcane growers in the country, the acreage of sugarcane across the country, the capacity of the sugar millers, and will be used to conduct real-time monitoring to identify bottlenecks and respond promptly to critical issues.
“This is one of the initiatives we are putting in place to address some of the outstanding challenges in the sugar sector, including the low sugarcane yields, harvesting of immature cane, sugarcane poaching, and poor farmer - miller relationships,” Tanna explained.
Tanna also warned millers against underpaying cane farmers and buying sugar cane from unregistered growers, saying failure to follow industry regulations could undermine the sustainability of Uganda’s sugar sector.
With preparations in high gear to roll out the system, Tana asked licensed millers to comply with the law governing the registration of outgrowers, the weighing of sugarcane and payments to farmers, warning that those who contravene the requirements could face fines and imprisonment.
He also raised concern over deductions and price reductions affecting cane farmers, saying some millers were deducting between 5% and 10% at the factory gate despite an agreed price of sh125,000
“Before the elections, you agreed on a price of sh125,000. However, it has come to our attention that some millers are unilaterally deducting 5 or 10 percent at the factory gate, citing various charges,” Tanna said. Other millers had reduced the price up to sh90,000, which is unfair to farmers.
The farmers also welcomed the system, saying it would help them to get rid of the dishonest farmers who are spoiling their business.
Present at the meeting was Jimmy Kabeho, the Chairperson of Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association, who informed the minister that the majority of the sugar mills are operating at half capacity because of the low yields of sugarcane in most parts of the country.
“With the new system, we hope to obtain quality and quantities from the registered farmers needed for that process so as to perform as per the installed capacity,” Kabeho said.
“Before the elections, you agreed on a price of sh125,000. However, it has come to our attention that some millers are unilaterally deducting 5 or 10 percent at the factory gate, citing various charges,” Tanna said. Other millers had reduced the price up to sh90,000, which is unfair to farmers.
The farmers also welcomed the system, saying it would help them to get rid of the dishonest farmers who are spoiling their business.
Present at the meeting was Jimmy Kabeho, the Chairperson of Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association, who informed the minister that the majority of the sugar mills are operating at half capacity because of the low yields of sugarcane in most parts of the country.
“With the new system, we hope to obtain quality and quantities from the registered farmers needed for that process so as to perform as per the installed capacity,” Kabeho said.