{"id":1497095,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497095/?format=json","text_counter":90,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Awendo, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Walter Owino","speaker":null,"content":"Most state-owned sugar mills are operating old and inefficient machinery, thus limiting sugar production to about 700,241 metric tonnes against a domestic demand of about 1,100,000 metric tonnes a year. Bridging the deficit through importation from COMESA region and the international market is hurting the profitability of ailing local sugar millers. Notably, the cost of sugar production, especially by state-owned mills, is comparatively high due to inefficiencies along the value chain, inadequate maintenance of factory machinery and equipment, low sugar recovery as a result of poor cane quality, inappropriate processing technologies and low competencies."}