Njunge - harvesting continues to be a serious problem,has been for the past few years. there's even cases of 36 months,the uprooting of cane by farmers is out of all this frustration.
Payment is not any better with agonizing waits that sometimes go beyond 90 days. A few years back I used to defend the MSC business model with a passion. I still hold their stock,but until they pull off a major acquisition soon or expand via Tarda where their cost of production will be much lower,I will only buy more for speculative purposes.
The costs in the western region will continue to grow,since 'we' continue to subdivide land making it more difficult to work the land and also gradually diminishing the acerage. - that's a factor beyond Kidero's control.
We however have not forgotten what MSC has brought to the region in terms of infrastructure and improving livelihoods over the years,destroying some because windfalls have a way of doing that sometimes.
Interestingly,we go to MSC to get our calves'ng'ombe ya grady' after uprooting 'our' cane. We also applauded Kidero when we got bonus shares and bought MSC shares at a discount.
But right now when profits have consistently declined over the years,and with all the operation deficiencies especially at harvest time and payment time,they will always sing 'Kitero mpaka itsie!' - Kidero Must Go.
Investing in stocks without doing the homework that lets you arrive at a fair estimate of the value of business it represents,is like buying a house without ever having stepped inside.