Amukoa, Peter M.2016-04-142020-01-072016-04-142020-01-071979Amukoa, P. M. (1979) An economic study of sugarcane out grower farms in Kenya: a case study of the Mumias area, Masters dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/detail.aspxhttp://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/51Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS WRE TD365.J67)This investigation was designed to determine (a) farm level factors that influence variability in smallholder sugarcane production in Mumias area and problems that face these cane growers and (b) the nature and extent of diversification on these cane farms, with emphasis on food production, and possible improvements that would better meet farm goals. Data and information were collected from 60 randomly-sampled smallholder sugarcane outgrower farmers who are the major suppliers of contracted cane to the Mumias Sugar Company Ltd. The survey was conducted in 1977/78 and covers farmers who began production between 1871 and 1975. Weeding, done 2 to 7 times for each cane crop, is the most pressing problem in cane production. Research on how best to perform this task is recommended. Expenditures incurred by each farmer to feed salaried company cane harvesters had a statistically significant effect on sugarcane production on individual farms, reflecting a more complete harvest when served adequate food. As regards food production, a typical Mumias farmer does not now produce enough to feed his family, though he has sufficient land for this purpose, but supplements his farm production by purchases. Most money for such purchases comes from casual work he does for neighbours and only to a small extent from his home-grown cane. The extension services of the Ministry of Agriculture appear to be not too effective. Extension services of the company focus on cane production only and have nothing to do with the rest of the farm sector. Sugarcane production should be accompanied by a strong emphasis on farm diversification. Two systems of farming are proposed with and without a cow, using programming techniques. Each takes account of major goals of farmers in that it maximises the total future household net income stream after making sure household subsistence requirements are met, but prefers a regular household income flow over the year to a more erratic one. In each system, half of the cane is planted in the long rains and the other half in the short rains, a procedure not now recommended by the Sugar Company. This ensures that income flow from cane is at intervals of 6 and 12 months. Income from beans groundnuts and maize is received after 3, 5, and 6 months respectively. When a dairy cow is ineluded, income is on a daily basis. Apart from the nutritional advantage derived from milk, leys considered in the rotational pattern and manure contribute to soil fertility. Net cash income is about 10 percent lower with a cow than without one but the other advantages noted may make this a preferred system for many farmers. For sugarcane income to be re-invested on the farm and for more income generation, the Mumias Outgrowers Company Ltd, of which each cane grower is a member, should advance farm input credit for the production of non-cane enterprises, with the farmer's cane acting as a security for such credit. The government policy of self-sufficiency in sugar production is justifiable as domestic production would be cheaper than import buying based on world prices at the time of the study. However, as a potential sugar exporter based on present plans for expansion Kenya should examine the export cost structure and external market prices and the likelihood of import quotas by many importing countries either directly or under a World Sugar Agreement. It might suffice for Kenya to plan for self-sufficiency in relation to her expanding domestic market and attempt to keep domestic demand and supply in balance by adjusting retail sugar prices and returns to producers.enSugarcaneAgricultureEconomic aspectsKenyaThesis