December 2024 C...

INTRODUCTION

This report provides an overview of the key parameters used to assess cane quality, the current state of cane quality in Kenya for the month of December 2024, the challenges affecting it, and recommendations for improvement.

ANALYSED PARAMETERS

• Pol (Sucrose Content): This is the most important parameter, representing the percentage of sucrose in the cane juice. Higher pol values indicate higher sugar content and thus better quality.
• Brix (Total Soluble Solids): This measures the total amount of dissolved solids in the cane juice, including sucrose and other sugars.
• Moisture Content: This refers to the amount of water present in the cane. High moisture content dilutes the juice, reducing sugar yield and increasing processing costs.
• Fiber Content: This represents the non-sucrose organic material in the cane. High fiber content can hinder milling efficiency.
• Purity: This is the ratio of sucrose to total soluble solids (Pol/Brix), indicating the proportion of sucrose in the dissolved solids.

The total number of NIRs samples analyzed across all regions by the representative CTUs for this reporting month is 301.

The n regions are represented by the CTUs as follows,

Western region (Butali Ctu,Nzoia Ctu,Mumias Ctu And West Kenya Ctu)

Nyanza Region (Kibos Ctu, Chemilil Ctu,Muhoroni Ctu)

South Nyanza Region (Sony Ctu,Transmara Ctu And Sukari Ctu)

Coast Region (Kwale Ctu)

The table below represent an average NIRs analysis for cane pol, moisture and fiber within different regions, for the month of December 2024.

Regional Variations: Western Kenya has generally shown higher purity levels compared to other regions like Nyanza. This can be attributed to factors like sugarcane variety, soil type, climate, and farming practices

CHALLENGES ACROSS REGIONS

• Harvesting of Immature Cane: Due to cane shortages and pressure to meet mill demands, farmers sometimes harvest immature cane, which has lower sucrose content.
• Post-Harvest Deterioration: Delays in transportation and processing has led to moisture loss, sucrose inversion, and degradation, reducing cane quality.
• Inadequate Farming Practices: Poor soil management, lack of proper fertilization, and insufficient weed control has negatively impacted cane growth and sucrose content.

• Cane shortage: Many sugarcane-growing regions are experiencing a shortage of cane, leading to minimal deliveries per day.
• Inability to sample by some CTUs: Cane Testing Units (CTUs) in certain areas were unable to sample cane due to operational challenges, resulting in low data for accuracy analysis. This lack of sampling can lead to incomplete data regarding the sugar content, quality, and other factors, which can affect both reporting accuracy and decision-making.

• Mill maintenance and stoppages: Mill maintenance and breakdown issues have led to stoppages in cane deliveries to mills, particularly at the Sony and Nzoia CTUs, where no data was analyzed for the reporting month.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Promote the Use of Improved Varieties: Encourage farmers to adopt high-yielding, disease-resistant, and high-sucrose sugarcane varieties.
• Improve Farming Practices: Provide training and extension services to farmers on best practices for land preparation, planting, fertilization, and pest and disease control.
• Timely Harvesting and Transportation: mills should implement efficient harvesting and transportation systems to minimize post-harvest losses and ensure timely delivery of cane to mills.
• Invest in Research and Development: Conduct research to develop new sugarcane varieties, improve farming practices, and optimize cane processing.
•  Regulating and supporting the sugar industry.
• Preventive Maintenance: To avoid unscheduled stoppages, the mills should implement a more robust preventive maintenance schedule that includes regular inspections and equipment checks.

Conclusion:

Improving cane quality is crucial for the sustainable development of the sugar industry in Kenya. By addressing the challenges and implementing the recommendations outlined in this report, Kenya can enhance its sugar production efficiency, improve the competitiveness of its sugar industry, and ensure better returns for both farmers and millers.

PREPARED BY.

ETHERLY BARASA

NZOIA CTU