By Beatrice Awuor, Kenya Sugar Board
Farmers are key stakeholders in the sugar industry, and their well-being has a significant impact on sugarcane production. Typically, a sugarcane crop will last for 3–5 years, which can have a mixed impact on food security among small-scale farmers. While it can provide a source of income, studies have shown that sugarcane, like any other cash crop, can also lead to reduced acreage for food crops, potentially increasing food insecurity if income from sugarcane is insufficient to meet household needs. This makes it crucial to ensure that farmers are food secure for an active and productive life.
The quality of sugarcane produced has a close correlation with the food security status of the farmer. It has been observed that in situations where farmers are food insecure, their investment in sugarcane production reduces. This impacts agronomic practices, the quantity and quality of farm inputs (such as fertilizers and seed cane), and overall farm management. From time to time, farmers are compelled to harvest sugarcane prematurely when in need of income. Brokers also take this opportunity to buy cane from farmers at lower prices in exchange for ready cash. These practices leave farmers with lower returns, reducing their interest in sugarcane production.
As the Kenya sugar industry transitions to a Quality-Based Cane Payment System, food security among smallholder farmers is one of the basic areas that demands attention. A multi-faceted approach is needed to address this challenge. Here are some of the strategies that can alleviate food insecurity among sugarcane farmers:
Diversification
Diversification can remarkably contribute to household food security by providing alternative food sources. Encouraging farmers to diversify their farm enterprises by growing a variety of food crops alongside sugarcane, and/or incorporating livestock like cattle and poultry, can provide an alternative source of income and improve food security. This approach can largely mitigate the risks associated with relying solely on sugarcane.
Intercropping
Implementing intercropping practices, where food crops are grown alongside sugarcane, can help maximize land use, increase food production, supplement income, and reduce risks associated with relying on a single crop. Intercropping with leguminous food crops like beans, cowpeas, and groundnuts has been shown to have positive impacts on soil health and yields. In addition to nitrogen fixation, intercropping provides better soil cover, minimizing erosion. Crops can also utilize different nutrients at various depths and times, optimizing overall resource use. Intercropping can lead to higher levels of organic matter in the soil, improving soil fertility and structure, and potentially lowering production costs. It is also known to disrupt pest and disease cycles, leading to healthier crops and higher yields, and thus increasing farmers’ income.
Investing in Post-Harvest Handling
Post-harvest management of food crops is crucial for ensuring food security among sugarcane farmers. Improving storage and investing in storage inputs for food crops like maize and beans can reduce losses and spoilage that occasionally compel farmers to sell their produce at lower prices, only to buy them later at higher prices when demand is high. Farmers should also consider drying vegetables to ensure their availability during scarcity; this is especially relevant since many indigenous vegetables grow naturally in sugarcane farms and some can be intercropped at the early stages of sugarcane growth.
Enhancing Agricultural Productivity
Focusing on increasing yields per acre through improved farming techniques and access to quality inputs (seeds, fertilizers) can directly support food security. When extension services are strengthened, farmers can access timely and relevant agricultural information, which can improve yields, increase income, and thus enhance access to food.
Centers of Excellence (CoEs)
The Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), in collaboration with the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KESRETI), has established Centers of Excellence in three sugar mills (Sony Sugar, Nzoia Sugar, and West Valley Sugar). These centers are expected to play a crucial role in advancing the sector by focusing on research, training, and knowledge dissemination. This will empower sugarcane farmers with the knowledge and skills to adopt innovative techniques, promoting sustainable farming practices and enhancing crop productivity.
Early-Maturing Sugarcane Varieties
The Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KESRETI), in collaboration with the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), has developed early-maturing varieties. These sugarcane varieties can lead to higher yields and potentially increased income for farmers, which can improve their food purchasing power. Early-maturing varieties also shorten the earning frequency for farmers, improving cash flow.
Financial Inclusion
Providing access to microfinance and financial education can help farmers manage their income and invest in both sugarcane and food crop production. There is a need for microfinance institutions to promote financial inclusion and literacy through available agricultural finance corporations and banks. These institutions should also work toward offering loans to farmers for farm investments. There is also a need for the national government to provide crop insurance and fixed contracts to prevent risks associated with price fluctuations and accidents like fires.
Bonuses
Bonuses such as the one recently launched by H.E. President William Ruto for sugarcane farmers in Mumias encourage farmers to increase cane production. Bonuses provide much-needed financial support, especially for farmers facing challenges due to market fluctuations and high production costs. This can contribute to the long-term sustainability of sugarcane farming and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Conclusion
Through the re-enactment of the Kenya Sugar Research and Training Institute (KESRETI) and Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), and the leasing of the previously state-owned sugar companies, sugarcane farmers will be the major beneficiaries if they take advantage of the services these institutions are expected to offer. Farmers are also expected to invest their energy and resources in producing good quality sugarcane as the industry transitions from a weight-based cane payment system to a Quality-Based Cane Payment System. This will ensure that they improve their yields to receive fair and timely payment for their produce and eventually improve their food security status through increased purchasing power.