Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh now says the government is on course with the planned privatization of the state-owned sugar mills in the country to make them profitable.

Speaking while touring the state-owned mills in Nyanza and Western, Ronoh said the government is seeking to have investors who will inject life into the four mills namely Chemelil, Muhoroni, Nzoia and Sony with the caveat of having farmers as the main beneficiaries.

Dr Ronoh says the state-owned mills have been operating in losses and a majority of them are being run on old technology a move that doesn't enable them to make good profits.

He says as part of preparations for private investors to take them up, the government is in the process of settling all cane farmers' arrears and even those of workers.

"The obsolescence of the machinery in this factory is the biggest challenge these four factories are facing. Their technology is old and we have seen that unless we step up our game with speed to revive this sector it will collapse," he said.

"The plan put in place to lease out the four factories is on course and we have discussed with all the stakeholders how we can move with speed but with the condition that the biggest beneficiary should be the region itself, the factory itself, the farmers and all stakeholders within the ecosystem of the factory.

PS Ronoh also announced that he government is now introducing new early maturing cane to give farmers for planting and that will be rolled out soon.