dc.description.abstract |
sugarcane production in Kenya has been on a decline over the last two decades leading to
the need for importation of sugar to meet the country‟s increased demand. Webuye East
Sub-County is one of the important sugarcane production areas in western Kenya, but has
also witnessed reduced production in sugarcane. This decline has mainly been attributed
to fragmentation of land due to rapidly increasing population. However, little focus has
been made on establishing the effects of agronomic practices on sugarcane production in
the Sub-county. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the major agronomic factors
that influence sugarcane production in Webuye East Sub-county in Kenya. The specific
objectives of the study were: To assess the influence of field crop production practices on
sugarcane production; To examine the influence of special purpose plant improvement
practices on sugarcane production; To determine the influence of soil management
practices on sugarcane production; To determine how planting season and harvesting
management influences sugarcane production in Webuye East Sub-county. Through this
study, it is expected that sugarcane farmers will understand effects of agronomic practices
and do away with inappropriate practices in their farm, the government will achieve its
goal on better distribution of rural income, sugarcane stakeholders will initiate
programmes and policies geared towards improving production of sugarcane and the
study contributes important knowledge and facilitate learning on sugarcane farming sub sector. The study was anchored on Cobb Douglas (1928) production theory. Descriptive
survey research design using mixed methods approach was used to elicit data from the
study participants. A sample of 96 respondents based on Kothari‟s (2004) was
systematically sampled from the target population of 6135 registered sugarcane farmers.
In addition 10 farmers, 5 field officers and 8 weigh bridge workers of West Kenya
Sugarcane Company in Webuye East Sub-County were purposively sampled as key
informants. Questionnaires, interviews, observation and documentary analysis were the
main data collection tools. Quantitative data were analyzed using percentages and
frequencies and further subjected to inferential analysis using the Chi-square. Qualitative
data were thematically analyzed. The study found out that a farmer could achieve on
average, 23.1% more tonnage of sugarcane in an acre of land when important agronomic
practices such as weeding, pest and disease control, ratooning, earthing up and raw
spacing were practiced. By using the Chi-square (at 0.05 level of significance) the study
established that there were a positive significant relationship between important
agronomic practices and sugarcane production. It was concluded that agronomic practices
significantly influenced cane production. This calls for efforts by all stakeholders to put in
place intervention measures that can improve cane yield. Key among the measures
includes; enhanced extension services such as information on technology of cane
husbandry, harvesting technology and planting technology. This study further
recommends that public meetings for sugarcane farmers be held regularly in every ward
in the sub county to sensitize farmers on best sugarcane agronomy, loan services in form
of materials be offered and farmers to be assisted in preparing land for planting to ensure
deep tillage has been done |
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