7 CONDITIONS FAVOURING SUGARCANE FARMING IN KENYA

 Sugarcane is a coarse perennial grass belonging to the Saccharum family.

It was introduced in Kenya in 1902 by an Australian farmer whereby commercial growing began in Miwani, Kibos, and Ramisi.

7 CONDITIONS FAVOURING SUGARCANE FARMING IN KENYA

Main Growing Areas

Nyanza: Muhoroni, Miwani, Chemilil and Awendo.
Coastal: Ramisi.
Western: Mumias, Nzoia, Kabras, Nambele

Conditions Favouring Sugarcane growing (requirements)

Physical

  • High temperatures(21◦c-27◦C)

  • High and well-distributed rainfall (1200-1500 mm annually).

  • Dry and sunny weather during harvesting to increase sugar accumulation in the cane.

  • Fertile and well-drained soils.

  • Undulating land for machinery to be used and for easier transportation of cane to factories.

  • Altitude between sea level and 1600 m.

Human Requirements

  • Abundant labour for planting, weeding, cutting, and loading onto trucks.

  • Good transport infrastructure for sugarcane to reach the factory within a week after harvesting.

  • Location of processing factories within the growing areas for quick processing of sugarcane before losing its sugar content through drying.

  • Availability of capital to pay workers in the field, buy farm machinery, etc.

Marketing of Sugar

  • Consumed locally.

  • Factories sell to wholesalers and retail outlets to consumers.

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