Kinyara Sugar Limited suffers loss of 6.8 billion Shillings due to Fire

 

Kinyara Sugar Limited in Masindi, Uganda, suffered losses of 6.8 billion Shillings due to fires that destroyed sugarcane plantations last season. 

Records show that the company lost 1,700 hectares of sugarcane to fires, impacting out-growers across different parts of Masindi district.

The burnt areas mainly consisted of nearly ripe or ready-to-harvest sugarcane. The Deputy Agricultural Manager, Sam Rugambwa, attributes the fire outbreaks to disputes and family conflicts among the outgrowers.

 To address this issue, the company has acquired firefighting equipment like graders, water bousers, and tankers, which are deployed during dry seasons to control fires. The General Manager, Ravi Ramalingam, emphasizes the negative impact of fire outbreaks on their operations and urges nearby communities to avoid unnecessary bush burning. 

The company plans to work with the government to prevent future fire outbreaks, including installing early warning systems and raising awareness. Some outgrowers suspect disgruntled farmers may intentionally set fires due to delayed payments from the sugar company.