THE STANDARD BUSINESS A stalled tractor loaded with sugarcane [Sammy Omingo, Standard] The Agriculture Ministry has said it is in negotiations with the employees of the State-owned sugar millers to unlock the stalemate that has slowed down the planned leasing of the sugar factories. The Ministry had mid-last year started a process to hand over the millers to private firms in a long-term leasing programme. The State had been banking on the lease to turn around the companies and breath life into the western Kenya sugar belt through investments in modern technology and efficient management of the millers. The programme, which would see the private firms lease the factories for 20 years, however, run into headwinds when employees of the factories lodged cases in court to stop the process.