Effects of Sugarcane Farming on Food Production in Dede Division, Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

Food production issues have dominated Kenyan Government development planning agenda for decades. Low food production have been experienced especially in areas where cash crops such as sugarcane are grown as it competes for rich agricultural land with food crops. Despite income from sugarcane, some households in Dede Division are still experiencing food shortages. This study assessed the effects of sugarcane farming on food production in Dede Division, Migori County. The specific objectives were; to determine the extent of expansion of land use for sugarcane production, to assess the effects of land use change on food production and to establish the effects of relocation occasioned by sugarcane farming on food production. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a sample size of 370 households drawn from a population of 9,503 households within the Division. Quantitative data was collected using household questionnaires administered to household heads. Qualitative data was obtained using key informant interviews (KII). More primary data was collected from direct observation and use of photography. Secondary data was obtained from published works, books and journals. Quantitative data was cross tabulated and the analysis presented in tables. Qualitative data was coded, compiled and integrated into the text. The study revealed that three quarters of the household heads (70.3%) who had given their land to an heir admitted that sugarcane was preferred by the beneficiaries followed by coffee (17.0%) and tobacco (12.7%). Before expansion of acreage under sugarcane, 27.1% of the land was set aside for maize and only 0.6% of the land was used for production of sugarcane. However, when commercialization of sugarcane started, the acreage under it increased from 0.6% to 61.2% per household. Its output increased from 1.8% to 97.8% tons. On food production,81.1% of the households sampled produced food lasting 5-6 months and none (0%) produced food that lasted below 1 month before expansion of area under sugarcane, after its expansion, 16.8% of the households now produce food that cannot last 1 month and 57.8% of the households now produce food that can only last 1-2 months. The study further revealed that the main cause of relocation in the study area was expansion of Sony nuclear farms as 81.3% of the households were relocated by the factory. Food production per household before the relocation stood at 23.3% of total produce for Maize, Beans had 16% but after relocation, Maize production reduced to 10.6% and Beans to 8.5%. It therefore emerged that land use was correlated with food production (r=-.560, p<.05) and land relocation had a negative effect on food production (r=-.657, p<.05). The study therefore concluded that; the allure of possible comfort from income generated through sugarcane production has contributed to the expansion of the area dedicated to it as a cash crop, changes in land use by the households are responsible for the low food production in the study area and lastly relocation resulted in low food production in the Division. This study therefore recommends that, measures be put in place by the Government to ensure that expansion of commercial sugarcane cultivation is controlled so as to boost food production, there should be policies focused on encouragement of efforts of Non-Governmental Organisations already on the ground such as „Njaa Marufuku‟ to improve food production, the Government should also put measures in place for the relocated population to be adequately empowered to improve their coping capacity.