THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES FACING SMALL SCALE SUGARCANE FARMERS IN MALAVA SUB-COUNTY, KAKAMEGA COUNTY

Abstract

Sugarcane production worldwide has been declining due to many challenges in several countries as their population grows. Earlier studies in the sugar industry have through years offered suggestions and solutions to how the ailing industry could be revived and improved but have not been successful. In Kenya, some sugarcane industries are closing down yet more sugar is needed. This study examined the challenges facing small scale sugarcane farming in Malava sub–county, Kakamega County. The study objectives were to: assess cane transportation problems, establish challenges related to the marketing of sugarcane and examine the effect of lack of capital equipment by small scale sugarcane farmers in Malava Sub County. It was undertaken in Malava Sub County where sugarcane is the economic backbone and the region’s key cash crop owing to the favorable geographical conditions in Western Kenya. Despite the Malava Sub County’s vast experience in sugarcane farming, production has gone down. Furthermore, such a study is yet to be done in Malava. The study purposed to find out the reasons for inefficiency and insufficiency in sugar production. A descriptive research design was used. Purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select sugarcane farmers from the seven wards; Manda/Shivanga, Butali/Chegulo, Chemuche, East Kabras, West Kabras and South Kabras, Shirugu/Mugai and the sugar factory stakeholders in the two sugar factories; Butali and Kabras in Malava Sub County. Malava Sub-county has an estimated population of 65,323 sugarcane farmers. From this population, a sample of 384 was used, basing on Mugenda and Mugenda’s formula of (2003): n=z2pq/d2, for a target population which is greater than 10,000. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires, interview schedules, Focus Group Discussions and observation guides. Secondary data was collected through literature search in online journals, theses and publications related to the study topic. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22). Presentation of data was done using tables, graphs and pie charts. A pilot study in Lwandeti and Chevaywa wards in Matete Sub- County was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the data collection instruments and Cronbach’s alpha of 0.8 was good evidence of reliability. Research findings showed that 70% (269) of the respondents accepted that the transportation charges were high compared to other costs of production, 60% (230) of the cane farmers sampled said that there was ready market for mature sugarcane, while 40% (154) responded negatively and 100% of the farmers indicated that they never witnessed the weighing of their cane. Finally, 79.95% (307) of the farmers accepted that the equipment for operation on cane farming were mainly the locally available ones for instance, Jembes, Pangas, and ox ploughs; and 83% (319) of farmers failed to uproot old cane due to lack of money to hire the tractors and high technology equipment. These results, all combined led to low productivity by small scale farmers in Malava sub – county. This study recommended that sugar millers should meet the transportation costs, issue permits on time, and introduce mobile weigh bridges to allow farmers to witness the weighing of their cane and the Government to provide loans for small scale farmers to buy tractors for use within the village. Research findings of this study would be useful to sugarcane farmers, the community, county planning and the ministry of agriculture. They would also help Kenya to achieve self-sufficiency in sugarcane production embracing her vision 2030. The findings could also be replicated elsewhere in the world, where sugarcane is grown.