Topic:An investigation on the challenges that small scale farmers maybe facing in sugar cane

production in kafue district case study KANSENJE agricultural camp

Chapter One
1.1 Introduction
Sugarcane is regarded as an essential crop worldwide due to its extensive use in the day-to-day
lives of people and its industrial use intended for dietary and economic sustenance FAO (2009).
Sugarcane is also an important industrial crop of subtropical and tropical regions worldwide.
According to the Fair Labor Association (2008), approximately 28.3 million hectares are planted
with sugarcane in more than 90 countries with a total production of about 1.69 billion tones
worldwide.

Zambia's small-scale farmers produce the bulk of the country's food needs – roughly 80 percent
– as well as a number of cash crops CSO (2010), The sugar industry in Zambia has been
reported as an industry with a high socio-economic developmental impact in both rural and peri-
urban settlements by organizing resources, creating job opportunities and providing a source of
income or families and small scale businesses Ministry of Agriculture (2006). Garside and Bell
(2000) state that although there are benefits obtainable from sugarcane production, the sugar
industry has experienced various challenges, which are encountered mainly by Small scale
growers (SSG). CSO (2010) revealed that in Zambia, since the early 2000’s, the sugar industry
has been facing a problem of declining sugarcane production, particularly by SSGs. The decline
of sugarcane production yield by SSGs causes distress to the overall sugar industry in Zambia.
These challenges facing SSGs have affected their productivity and as a result, the industry’s
earnings have dropped over the years. As a result, this has led to fewer SSGs and also limiting
their ability to commercialize. The decline in sugarcane production by SSGs has also increased
reliance on government social grants, for example, social cash transfer, due to low net-farm
income. Although it is common knowledge that the number of farmers has decreased because of
the resultant lower production and farm income, it is unclear what has caused the decrease in
production which has led to low income and eventually fewer farmers.

A preliminary report on a survey conducted by researchers from the school of Agriculture from
the university of Zambia in 2014 in Southern, Copperbelt, Northern and Luapula provinces
indicates that poor re-planting rates and weeds, use of poor seed varieties, bad irrigation
methods contributes to reduced yields, and low levels of education add to poor crop husbandry
practices among SSGs (UNZA 2014). According to Conlong and Campbell (2014), improving
weed management practices amongst SSGs in the Zambia’s sugar industry needs attention,
Topic:An investigation on the challenges that small scale farmers maybe facing in sugar cane
production in kafue district case study KANSENJE agricultural camp

because weeds are assumed to be another cause of yield decline. Crop protection practices such
as the use of herbicides amongst SSGs also need to be addressed. Eweg et al. (2006) state that
high costs of inputs such as fertilizer and chemicals may be one of the significant constraints
affecting SSGs’ yields, putting a strain on profit margins as sugar prices have not kept pace,
implying that SSGs do not apply enough inputs such as straight and mixed fertilizer. Another
difficulty experienced by SSGs is the adjustment of the minimum wage as regulated by labor
law, which has raised the financial and improbability costs to farmers to pay workers Eweg et al.
(2006). A high percentage increase in wages paid to farmworkers will have a significant impact
on SSGs’ net farm income. Moreover, there is some indication suggesting that before the
minimum wage adjustment, farmers may have been over-employing unproductive labor; after
which the law came into effect, they have been required to employ fewer skilled workers,
working many hours a day.

According to Conlong and Campbell (2014), the rising input costs for sugarcane growing in the
southern parts of Zambia, particularly in the planting areas of along the Kafue River specifically
in Kafue District, are resulting in less profit for SSGs. The consequences of rising input costs
influence the performance and progression of the industry. Government with its interested
stakeholders together with the Small-scale sugarcane growers, therefore, need to find ways to
reduce the effects of increasing input costs.

Furthermore Conlong and Campbell (2014), suggest that SSGs have a complicated relationship
with financial institutions, upon whom they depend for working capital to support their
sugarcane fields. Many other factors impact the production of SSGs in Kafue District, including
drought, farm size, inadequate infrastructure, low educational attainment and unskilled labor.

In contrast, commercial (large-scale) growers such as Zambia Sugar Plc, Kafue Sugar
(Consolidated Farming Ltd) and Kalungwishi Kasama Sugar have not suffered from the effect of
drought because they have adaptive strategies such as irrigation schemes. However, the
declining sugarcane production yield by SSGs cannot be attributed to climate change alone but
also to poor agronomic practices, and numerous factors that still need further investigation.

1.2 Statement of the problem

1.3 Rationale
1.4 Objectives
1.4.1 Main Objectives
1.4.2 Specific objectives
1.4.3 Hypothesis
 Topic:An investigation on the challenges that small scale farmers maybe facing in sugar cane
production in kafue district case study KANSENJE agricultural camp

Chapter two

Zambia

Zambia's small-scale farmers produce the bulk of the country's food needs – roughly
80 percent – as well as a number of cash crops, yet climate challenges, poor
infrastructure and inadequate input-use undermine productivity, profitability and
sustainability. The landlocked southern African country is prone to both drought and
floods, and the overuse of land resources has degraded soils, making it difficult for
farmers to get more from their land.

Poverty in Zambia is widespread, and many farmers lack access to markets and
credit, as well as proper storage to keep their food and seed from spoiling. The
country also has some of the world's highest HIV rates, which continues to affect the
labour force.

Cotton is a growing industry in Zambia, providing a living to more than 350 000
smallholder farmers, and an important export crop. Inadequate access to quality
seeds and fertilizers, low cotton productivity and price volatility are major issues
plaguing the sector. In-country technical expertise to help farmers produce cotton
more efficiently and sustainably is insufficient.

IPPM programme in Zambia

The IPPM programme, active in Zambia since 2014, is an implementation
mechanism of the "Support Programme for the Consolidation of the Action
Framework under the European Union-Africa Partnership on Cotton". It contributes
to the application of COMESA’s regional cotton sector strategy as well as putting
national strategies into action, to ensure a healthy, well-functioning cotton sector with
improved production and consequently better rural livelihoods and food security.

IPPM activities in Zambia have focused on increasing the number of

facilitators equipped with the technical know-how to boost cotton production
sustainably. Some 30 facilitators have been trained during the 2014 cotton growing
season to facilitate farmer field schools (FFS). These facilitators, in turn, have set up
pilot FFS in their communities in order to share their knowledge with local farmers.

Training covers topics such as good agricultural practices, including the use of
quality seed and the application of compost, for better crop growth. Given the heavy
use of pesticides in growing cotton, the IPPM approach also educates farmers on
 Topic:An investigation on the challenges that small scale farmers maybe facing in sugar cane
production in kafue district case study KANSENJE agricultural camp

the risks to human health and the environment. It encourages them to control pests
biologically by strengthening their understanding of pests' natural enemies. Over the
course of a cropping season, with support from the facilitator, farmers make field
experiments to help solve their agricultural problems. They test and compare new
agricultural practices and technologies to see what works best for healthy crop
growth – including the use of improved varieties, better plant management
techniques to boost productivity and reduce pest incidence, and use of biopesticides.

To date, the project has trained 30 facilitators in Mumbwa, a centrally-located zone

that boasts a new producer-managed cotton company, as well as several cotton
ginneries.

IPPM project in Zambia

 Supporting competitiveness and sustainable intensification of African cotton sectors

through capacity development on IPPM (regional)
Partners

IPPM is working with various partners in Zambia, including: Cargill; Common Market
for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Continental; Cotton Association of
Zambia; Cotton Board of Zambia; Cotton Development Trust; Grafax; International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture; Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock; Mumbwa
Farmers Ginnery and Processing Company; Zambia Cotton Ginners Association.

FAO is grateful to the European Union for its support of the IPPM programme in
Zambia.