Sugarcane farmers want gov’t to lift ban on weigh bridges

KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | Sugarcane farmers want government to lift the ban on weigh bridges. This they say will enable them to conveniently sell off their cane to the nearest markets.

This follows a statement, which was issued by the trade minister, directing all weigh bridge operators to close shop with immediate effect.

They say that, officials from the Ministry of trade resolved to ban weigh bridges without consulting farmers, who are key players.

The farmers say that, presence of weigh bridges is time saving as sugarcane is offloaded from trucks on arrival and payments effected in 24 hours, rescuing them from the bureaucratic tendencies of the millers, whom they accuse of enduring months without pay.

They also argue that, if weigh bridge operators are accused of manipulating weights to fleece them of their money, Uganda National Bureau of Standards(UNBS) should instead enforce compliance, rather than closing in a door of opportunity to the farmers.

Elizabeth Suubi, the coordinator of sugarcane farmers in Busedde sub county, in Jinja district says that, the millers’ permit system had kicked out small scale farmers from this trade, but with the presence of the weigh bridges, they can easily sell without any hindrances.

Suubi argues that, their association has encouraged them to prioritize crop gardens, which most of them have adhered too, with sugarcane being a surplus cash crop, which they can easily sell at the weigh bridges to handle life emergencies.

She says that, this kind of arrangement is not possible under the millers’ purchase monopoly, requiring them to spend months tracing for permits before eventually selling off the cane.

Bagoole Mubinge, the coordinator of farmers in Luuka district says that, the weigh bridges have availed farmers with breathing space to remotely bargain for fair costs in the sugarcane value chain.

Bagoole says that, the weigh bridges are nearer to the farmers, with those on small scale ferrying their cane in weights of one tonnage via tuk-tuks, minimizing the transport costs involved in accessing mills.

“The millers have set high level transport systems, involving the hiring of heavy Tata trucks at a minimum cost of 200,000 Shillings to ferry cane to their mills. This involves an independent pay of 50,000 Shillings to the driver, a fee that doubles depending on the days spent in the parking yard waiting for millers to offload the cane, which he blames for technically pushing out farmers from the sugarcane value chain and only relying on weigh bridges to rejuvenate their hopes,” he says.

Bagoole argues that, rather institute bans on amenities, which farmers perceive to be reliefs, responsible government agencies should issue workable standards, beneficial toto all those involved in the sugarcane value chain.

Also, the coordinator of Busoga sugarcane farmers association, Patrick Mudhungu says that, the weigh bridges were introduced as a solution to absorb surplus cane and with several farmers joining the industry, their presence is much needed.

Mudhungu notes that, rather than siding with the millers to frustrate the available opportunities of farmers to freely participate in the sugarcane value chain while selling their cane to desirable buyers of choice, the trade ministry should mitigate fair trading grounds for all stakeholders involved.

Mudhungu further notes that, the presence of weigh bridges is slowly creating fair competition for all parties involved, with millers slowly bettering trading conditions for the farmers for fear of losing them to other competitors, therefore, banning weigh bridges will only sink them in the 2020 sugarcane crisis, where they lacked viable markets for the cane.

The Uganda Millers Association-UMA is yet to issue an official statement over the matter.

Some millers who spoke on condition of anonymity have expressed neutrality as others want the weigh bridges maintained because they act as their direct liaison linkages with the grassroots farmers.

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