Wangamati, Joseph Kimingichi (2013) Effects of Commercial Sugarcane Farming on Community Livelihoods and Ecosystem Services in Nzoia Sugarbelt, Bungoma County, Kenya. Masters thesis, Kenyatta University.
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Abstract
Contract sugarcane farming is the most popular commercial land use practice among farmers in Nzoia. To date it is widely acknowledged that large-scale sugarcane production has not improved community livelihoods in the Nzoia area, contrary to conventional expectations. Further, there is scanty documentation particularly on changes in essential ecosystem services, as these tend to be insidious within sugarcane farming systems, and thus easy to ignore. This study sought to explore the relationship between large-scale sugarcane farming, ecosystem services and community well-being in Nzoia sugarbelt. A survey research design based on an integrated ecosystem assessment framework was used for this purpose. Questionnaires. interviews and participatory rural appraisals were used' for data collection. Respondents included contracted sugarcane farmers, Nzoia sugar company management, and key respondents from government departments such as officials in agriculture and environment ministries. A sample size of 140 households, which was selected using systematic random sampling, was used. In addition, three FGDs were held where purposive sampling was employed to select the three farmers' groups. Results showed that up to 71% of the respondents were of the opinion that sugarcane farming had not significantly improved their livelihoods. The key predictor variables that determined net income from sugarcane include land sizes, tillage cost, seed cane cost, distance from the factory, transport cost, cost of fertilizer and education level of farmers. A correlation analysis of these variables showed high and significant positive relationship between net income, yield and education level. Low and even negative income was associated mainly with farmers with low education level (r=0.675). Other factors that contributed to unprofitability of sugarcane production include ad hoc harvesting program, costly input supplied by the factory, delay in payment. spillage losses during transportation, which was also incurred by farmers though they had no control over sugarcane once harvested. Food security in the Nzoia sugarbelt is also a major concern largely because most of the land is dedicated to sugarcane farming at the expense of food crops. Loss of essential ecosystem services has been mainly caused by encroachment onto forested areas and wetlands to create more land for sugarcane farming. Up to 70% and 66% of the respondents do not enjoy benefits associated with wetlands and forest ecosystems respectively. A key driver of this complex scenario was lack of a comprehensive corporate social responsibility policy on the part of the Nzoia Sugar Company. Since commercial sugarcane farming remains a popular land use among the farmers, this study has detailed a corporate social responsibility framework that would allow sugarcane farmers in the Sugarbelt, the company and the environment to benefit equitably. Eleven building blocks have been suggested such as decentralising sugarcane weighing bridges, investing in community water projects, tree nurseries and extension services to advice farmers on crop diversification among others. To maximise on impact, sugarcane farmers should be encouraged to strengthen their collective bargaining ability through strengthening or forming strong farmer associations and or cooperative movements. To ensure food security there is need for crop diversification from sugarcane to other crops that are ecologically suitable and accrue better returns. These include among others, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, onions and ground nuts. This would however require strategic extension services with a strong entrepreneurial and farmer capacity building dimension.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HF Commerce H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Tim Khabala |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Sep 2017 07:42 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2017 07:42 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/2111 |
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