REPORT ON THE CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING

WORKSHOP FOR FARMERS IN NYANZA AND

WESTERN SUGAR BELTS

April-June 2016

Sugarcane Production Technologies and Best

Management Practices

By Lilian Odongo (ICT-Documentation)

Republic of Kenya The European Union Sugar Research Institute

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REMARKS FROM THE SPONSORS

The Director, SRI – Dr. Japheth Jamoza

Sugar Research Institute under the structure of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research

Organization (KALRO) is mandated to conduct research and development of appropriate

production technologies and services for sustainable and enhanced production of sugarcane, the

sugar industry support over 6 million Kenyans and over

250,000 farmers depend on sugarcane growing for their

livelihoods. Increase in sugarcane production can be achieved

by performing best management practices like; plant new

varieties that early maturing with high sucrose contents, e.g 12

months maturity, testing soils to know the acidity and fertility

of the land, technology development by improving the fibre

content, proper land preparation, soil management and planting

quality seedcane free from diseases. SRI has developed over 21

improved sugarcane varieties over the years. It is SRI’s

responsibility to disseminate information to farmers; SRI will

collaborate with the counties in consultation with farmers to

disseminate the new technologies developed to farmers for

increased yields. The training was organized to breach the

knowledge gap of sugarcane farmers with the view to improve sugarcane production, farmers

were encouraged to highly adopt the knowledge and skills acquired during training as this would

raise their agricultural practices to the next level of production.

The Centre Director, SRI – Dr. Betty Mulianga

The significance of learning is an essential element to growth as

far as capacity building is concerned. Farmers are the driving

force behind quality and increased production of sugarcane in

the sugar industry and are urged to cooperate and support

research work in elevating standards of sugarcane production.

To broaden its scope, SRI has embarked on empowering the

women and youth to fully acquire the necessary knowledge and

skills on sugarcane production technologies and best

management practices for increased and sustainable yields. This

will transform their economics status to ensure poverty

eradication, improved livelihoods and wealth creation.

Information is power, SRI has established an effective

information management and exchange mechanism to

disseminate appropriate sugarcane and sugar production technologies for all players in the

industry.

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Head of Technology Transfer - Mr. James Odenya

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization

(KALRO) made an obligation in the 2015/16 Performance

Contract to the Government to train sugarcane farmers on

standards of Good Agricultural Practices (K-GAP) in order to

ensure competitiveness of Kenyan produce in the world

market. This will greatly improve farmers’ knowledge on

sugarcane farming, lead to high yield and proceeds, creation of

wealth and employments consequently improving their

livelihoods. In defining gender roles, men were urged to

support and empower women to fully participate in farming

and attend refresher courses in the same capacity which would

transform their economic status. Farmers were encouraged to

grow sugarcane alongside other food crops to promote

diversification within the regions. Farmers need to learn how to

organize themselves and their communities to form coherent farmer groups (FRG) that supports

establishment of demonstration plots for bulking of seedcane and distribution in the farmers’

fields. SRI will do surveillance to ensure that farmers are practicing the right sugarcane growing

systems for improved yields. Feedback systems are available to enable stakeholders (farmers) to

express their views and experiences about sugarcane growing.

The Head of SRSP – Dr. John Rono

The European Union (EU) project mandate is to empower farmers

through capacity building by improving their knowledge and skills

and attitudes about farming matters to achieve their goals. Team

work is key and men were encouraged to work in one accord with

women with an aim of increasing production for better yields. The

100% turn out for the training was positive and therefore urged

participants to fully concentrate during sessions as the information

and topics presented were well packaged for ease of farmers

understanding. For future reference, the project published detailed

information on various facts about sugarcane management.

Challenges that face farmers in their production areas are to be

addressed by the key players in the sugar industry.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ v

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... vi

1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Objective ............................................................................................................................. 2

1.1.1 Specific Objectives .................................................................................................................. 2

1.2 Farmers’ Expectation on Training ................................................................................... 2

1.3 Facilitation Mode ............................................................................................................... 2

2.0 FINDINGS .......................................................................................................................... 3

2.1 Distribution by County ............................................................................................................... 3

2.3 Distribution by Gender ............................................................................................................... 4

2.4 Gender distribution by county ................................................................................................... 5

2.5 Distribution by Age ..................................................................................................................... 5

2.6 Age distribution by county ......................................................................................................... 6

2.7 Proportion of disable participants ............................................................................................. 6

3.0 TOPICS COVERED .......................................................................................................... 7

3.1 Issues raised by the farmers during the training .......................................................... 12

3.2 Suggestions........................................................................................................................ 12

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 12

4.0 PICTORIALS ................................................................................................................... 13

4.1 Mabanga Bungoma county ...................................................................................................... 13

4.2 Kakamega county – Multipurpose training centre ................................................................ 14

4.3 Homabay county farmers– Kisii ATC .................................................................................... 15

4.4 Migori county – Kisii ATC ....................................................................................................... 16

4.5 Kisii/Narok county farmers – Kisii ATC ................................................................................ 17

4.6 Kericho county (Soin/Muhoroni farmers)– Tea Research Institute (TRI) ......................... 18

4.7 Kisumu county (Kibos/Chemelil)- Tea Research Institute (TRI) ......................................... 19

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Activity work plan by counties ..................................................................................... 1

Table 2: Subcounty representation ............................................................................................. 3

Table 3: Distribution by County,Gender, Age and PWD ......................................................... 3

Table 4: Topics Covered and facilitators .................................................................................... 7

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Distribution of the participants by county ................................................................ 4

Figure 2: Distribution of the participants by gender ................................................................. 4

Figure 3: Gender distribution by county .................................................................................... 5

Figure 4: Distribution of the participants by gender ................................................................. 5

Figure 5: Distribution of the participants by gender ................................................................. 6

Figure 6: Distribution of the participants by PWD ................................................................... 6

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Sugar Research Institute (SRI) being one of the institutes established by Kenya Agricultural

and Livestock Research (KALRO) Act of 2014 is mandated to undertake research and

disseminate information, innovations and technologies for the production of sugarcane

processing of sugar and co-products to enhance productivity and competitiveness in the sugar

industry. In order to achieve its objective, SRI embraces training as a tool to build capacity of

sugarcane farmers and other stakeholders on the best cane production technologies in sugarcane

growing areas for enhanced productivity and sustainability.

SRI through its outreach sub-centres namely; Mumias, Opapo and Nyando sugarcane growing

zones organized for trainings based on the results of training needs assessment undertaken

earlier, targeting an all inclusive sugarcane farming community comprising of men, women, the

youth and persons living with disability (PWDs), who had partial knowledge on sugarcane

farming and had never been trained before.

SRI in collaboration with the Sugar Milling Companies within Nyanza/Western Sugar belts and

the County governments of Bungoma, Kakamega, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Narok, Kericho and

Kisumu organized for a five (5) day farmers training workshop in each county as follows:

Table 1: Activity work plan by counties

Date County Venue-institution

18th

-22nd

April 2016 Bungoma Mabanga Agricultural Training Centre (ATC)

25th

-29th

April 2016 Kakamega Multipurpose, Kakamega

2nd

-6th

May 2016 Homabay Kisii Agricultural Training Centre (ATC )

9th

-13th

May 2016 Migori Kisii Agricultural Training Centre (ATC)

16th

-20th

May 2016 Kisii and Narok Kisii Agricultural Training Centre (ATC)

23rd

May-3rd

June

2016

Kericho and Kisumu Tea Research Institute (TRI) Kericho

The training activity was jointly funded by the Government of Kenya (GOK) and the European

Union (EU) under the Sugar Reforms for Support Project (SRSP) component.

The training sessions were graced by a number of high profile guests form each county and

institutions who included:

The County government officials from Agriculture department

The Director, SRI,

The Center Director, SRI-Kibos

The Center Director, TRI

The Head of Technology Transfer, SRI

The Head of SRSP, SRI

The Principals of the ATCs

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1.1 Objective

The overall objective of the training was to enhance capacity of the farmers on all aspects of

appropriate sugarcane production technologies.

1.1.1 Specific Objectives

The specific training objective included to:-

1. Educate farmers on Best Agricultural Practices on Sugarcane production with a view to

Increase sugarcane yields through dissemination and adoption of appropriate sugarcane

production technologies and innovation

2. Increase sugarcane yields through adoption of appropriate sugarcane production

technologies

3. Educate farmers on technologies that have been generated by SRI and their application in

sugarcane Production.

4. Educate farmers on their roles and that of other players in the Sugarcane production value

chain

5. Educate farmers on challenges in sugarcane farming as a business

6. Enhance diffusion and adoption of Improved Sugarcane varieties

7. Educate farmers on enterprise diversification programmes with a view to Improve food

security and general livelihood

8. Sensitize farmers on cross cutting issues and their relevance to Sugarcane production

(Gender, Disability, HIV/AID and, ADA issues).

9. Strengthening the capacity of small scale farmers in order to achieve sustainable

agriculture and improved food security.

10. Educate farmers on soil & water conservation and environmental management for

sustainable productivity.

1.2 Farmers’ Expectation on Training

Before commencement of the training, farmers’ expectation regarding the training was sought.

The following were their expectation:-

1. To gain knowledge and skills on sugarcane production technologies

2. To use knowledge acquired to empower other farmers

3. To learn changes in the Sugar Industry

4. To learn changes in farming technologies

5. To be educated on new sugarcane varieties

6. To put into practices technologies learnt during the session

7. To learn about Sugarcane pest & diseases

8. To learn about enterprise diversification

9. To be issued with participation certificates

10. To get empowerment in monetary value

1.3 Facilitation Mode

The facilitators for the training were drawn from the institute’s pool of Research Assistants who

achieved the objective through power point presentation conducted via use of the following

facilitation modes:-

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i. Lectures

ii. Case studies

iii. Plenary discussion

iv. Questions and answers

v. Teaching aids (photographs and video)

vi. Field excursions

SRI sub-centres/zones conducted training needs assessment within the sugarcane growing areas

in the counties, based on the analysis SRI in collaboration with the milling companies undertook

the task to select farmers who had never attended any training organized by SRI in the past, they

were drawn from the sugarcane growing sub-counties found within the above eight (8) counties

as per the table below:

Table 2: Subcounty representation

County Sub-counties

Bungoma Kabuchai Webuye West Webuye East Kimilili

Kakamega Navakholo Mumias East Lurambi

Homabay Ndhiwa Rangwe

Migori Uriri Awendo Rongo

Kisii/Narok Kisii south Transmara west

Kisumu/Nandi Nyando Muhoroni Tinderet Aldai

Kericho Ainamoi Sigowet

2.0 FINDINGS

The total number of sugarcane farmers trained was 348. The table below shows distribution by

County, Gender, Age and Persons with disability (PWD).

Table 3: Distribution by County, Gender, Age and PWD

County Gender

Age PWD

Male Female Total <35 >36

Bungoma 46 14 60 9 51 2

Kakamega 48 12 60 4 56 1

Homabay 29 24 53 32 21 3

Migori 28 24 52 22 30 11

Kisii/Narok 34 9 43 22 21 1

Kericho 34 7 41 16 25 3

Kisumu/Nandi 28 11 39 10 29 1

TOTAL 247 101 348 115 233 22

2.1 Distribution by County

The figure below show farmers distribution by county; 17% were from Bungoma, Kakamega

17%, Homabay 15%, Migori 15%, Kisii/Narok 13%, Kericho 12%, Kisumu/Nandi county11%

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Figure 1: Distribution of the participants by county

2.3 Distribution by Gender

The figure below shows the distribution of the participants by gender. In particular, 29% of the

participants were female while 71% of the participants were male.

Figure 2: Distribution of the participants by gender

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2.4 Gender distribution by county

The graph below show gender distribution by the counties

Figure 3: Gender distribution by county

2.5 Distribution by Age

The figure below shows the distribution of the participants by Age. The number of youth

(age<35) who attended the training was 115 which is 33% of the sample size while the adults

(age>36) were 233 which is 67% of the sample size.

Figure 4: Distribution of the participants by gender

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2.6 Age distribution by county

The graph below shows Age distribution by the counties

Figure 5: Distribution of the participants by gender

2.7 Proportion of disable participants

The figure below shows that 7% of the participants were persons living with disability (PWD)

while normal persons were 93%. The PWD comprised of farmers who were disabled in one way

or another, these included the deaf, the blind and the lame.

Figure 6: Distribution of the participants by PWD

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3.0 TOPICS COVERED

During the five day long training farmers were educated on all aspects of Sugarcane production.

The topics included:-

Table 4: Topics Covered and facilitators No. Facilitator Topics Covered

1 Kennedy Yegon Soil Sampling&

Sampling techniques

- Indigenous plants/vegetation that describe the status

of Soil fertility

- Importance of Soil Sampling & testing

- Soil sampling tools& accessories

- Soil Sampling procedure& Instruction

- Consideration during sampling

- Frequency of sampling& testing

Harvesting and

Transport

- Sugarcane harvesting procedure

- Cutting procedure

- Safe cutting procedure

- Ideal harvesting Standards

- In field and transit cane losses

- Harvested cane transportation

Ratoon Management - Benefits of Ratoon crops compared to plant crop

- Recommended Ratoon Management practices

- Trash alignment methods

- Advantages of trash in Ratoon management Role of out growers

Institution

- Definition of Out grower Institutions

- Structure & membership

- Objective of the Institutions/Mandate

- Roles & responsibilities of the various players 2 Marygorreti Okal Variety

Identification

- Reasons for having different varieties

- Criteria used to identify Sugarcane Identification

- Different sugarcane Varieties their features,

morphology and general characteristics

Seed cane Selection

- Meaning of seed

- Attributes of ideal Seed material

- Seed cane selection criteria 3 Eliud Ombok Fertilizer

application, rate,

type and methods

- Definition of fertilizer

- Type of fertilizers

- Rates of fertilizer application by zone

- Methods of fertilizer application

- Macro nutrients

- Micronutrients

- Role of potassium in Sugarcane production

- Nitrogenous fertilizers and role of Nitrogen in crop

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No. Facilitator Topics Covered

development

- Fertilizer deficiency symptoms

Common Sugarcane

weeds and their

management

- Definition of weeds

- Economic importance of weeds

- Common Sugarcane weeds

- Factors influencing weeds survival

- Classification of weeds

- Major weeds of Sugarcane

- Critical period of weed-crop competition

- Method of weed control

- Integrated weed management Seed cane

Multiplication

- Origin & distribution of Sugarcane

- Sugarcane fuzz and its role in sugarcane

development

- Sugarcane germplasm

- Objective of Sugarcane improvement

- Improved Sugarcane varieties developed by SRI

- Multiplication of Seed cane and collaborating

institutions

- Selection of parents

- Seed cane preparation and treatment

- Farmer as Seed cane producer

- Identification & requirement for Seed cane farmers

- Seed cane nursery

- Seed cane harvesting and distribution

- Single eye bud technology 4 Kennedy Ngutu Sugarcane Pest and

its control

- Termites

- Borers

- Moles

- White grubs

- Primates

- Sugarcane scales

- Sugarcane aphids

Sugarcane diseases

and its control

- Ratoon stunting disease covering its mode of

transmission spread, symptoms and management

- Sugarcane Mosaic virus covering its mode of

transmission& spread, symptoms and management

- Sugarcane leaf yellow virus covering its mode of

transmission& spread, symptoms and management

- General methods used to control spread of diseases 5 Douglas Omoka Soil and its

Management

- Meaning of Soil

- Function of Soil

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No. Facilitator Topics Covered

- Factors that affect Soil formation & development

- Soil component

- Soil type

- Soil suitable for sugarcane growing

- Spoil Physical Suitability parameters

- Soil sampling & testing

- Soil nutrients that influence yields

- Soil loss

- Effects of Soil erosion

- Soil management Variety

recommendation by

zones

- Overview of major Sugarcane varieties in Kenya

- Potential impact of New varieties in the Sugar

Industry

- Features of Sugarcane varieties released by SRI to

date

- Varieties suitable for Kakamega County 6 Francis Osore Irrigation Methods

- Over view of irrigation in Kenya

- Description and meaning of irrigation

- When should irrigation take place

- Factors to consider when designing for irrigation

system

- Choice of irrigation method

- Irrigation methods

- System maintenance

- Benefits of irrigation

Drainage

- Description of drainage process and its meaning

- Effects of excess water in farms

- Factors to consider when designing for a drainage

system

- Types of drainage

Soil and water

Conservation

- Description of Soil and water conservation process

- Application measures

- Conservation measures

- Soil & water conservation measures

- Water harvesting& its advantages and mitigation

measures

- Water storage

- Features of water pan

Environment

Conservation

- Description and definition of environment

- Impact of environment degradation

- Consequences of not conserving the environment

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No. Facilitator Topics Covered

- Environmental issues in Kenya 7 Rashid Katama Enterprise

diversification

- Objective of Enterprise diversification

- Factors influencing diversification

- Drivers of diversification

- Benefits of diversification

- Factors considered in diversification

- Examples of Enterprise Combination

Group dynamic - Definition of a group and what Group dynamic

involves

- Process/Stages of Group development/Evolution

- Characteristics of a Group

- Types of Groups

- Factors affecting Group behavior

- What causes poor Group performance

- Turning Groups into effective teams

- Strategies for improving team dynamics

- Factors responsible for success of Groups 8 Lilian Odongo E-service in

KALRO/SRI

- What is E-service

- Why E-Service in SRI

- Electronic Access mechanisms

- The Social media

- The SRI website

- E-Repository

Information access

and management

- What is Information management

- Rationale for availing information & knowledge

- Information Access mechanisms

- Steps to managing information

- The essence of information management 9 Willis Odeny,

Dorothy Awino

Angela Fedha

Drug and Substance

abuse

- Meaning of drugs

- Illegal drugs

- Myth busting

- Types of drugs

- Effects of drugs

- Why people take to drinking

- Effects of consuming Alcohol

HIV/AIDS Gender

&issues

- Overview of HIV/AIDS, Gender and Disability in

the Sugar Industry

- Best management practices

- Gender

- HIV/AIDS

- Discrimination & stigma

- Cultural & tradition

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No. Facilitator Topics Covered

- Equity and diversity in the Sugar Industry

- Plenary-Discussion 10 Gabriel Bor Land Preparation

- Factors considered when selecting sugarcane field

- Objective of land preparation

- Factors influencing the type of land preparation

- Source of power for land preparation

- Factors influencing choice of land preparation

implements

- Categories of land preparation

- Stages of land preparation

- Appropriate ploughing, harrowing, furrowing and

ridging standards

Cane establishment - Objective of timely planting

- Principles of Good crop Establishment

- Sugarcane planting Material

- Sugarcane planting methods and their Suitability,

Merits and demerits

- Recommended Sugarcane establishment standards Role of Farmer

Research Groups

- Overview of FRG Approach

- Advantages of FRG in Technology dissemination

- Benefits of FRG

- FRG success stories

- Case study: Kiptugumo FRG

- FRG formation protocol 11 George Adoyo Cost Benefit

Analysis (CBA) in

sugarcane

production

- Definition of CBA

- Uses of CBA

- Advantages of using CBA

- Designing a CBA

- Cost Analysis

- Benefit Analysis

- Case examples: Mumias, Nzoia, Sony, Transmara,

Nyando and Soin sugar zones Keeping Farm

Records

- Definition

- Categories

- Examples of the types

- Importance of farm records

- Application of farm records 12 Asenath Dumo Sign Language - Sign Language interpretation

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Caroline Thuo Evaluation - Training Evaluation

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3.1 Issues raised by the farmers during the training

During the training the farmers raised issues that affect Sugarcane production within the Counties.

They noted that some services and operations offered by the milling companies were far below

the expected standards, that they were being educated on. Some of the matters raised included:-

1. Delayed payment of sugarcane harvested and supplied to the miller.

2. Non supply of inputs (Fertilizer) by the miller

3. Low cane prices

4. High cost of inputs

5. Poor services by cane cutters contractors

6. Poor seed cane supply

3.2 Suggestions

During the training the farmers noted that there was need for SRI to undertake the following:-

1. Follow up and evaluation of the trained farmers in order to assess the impact of such

trainings

2. SRI to form more Farmer Research Groups in sugarcane growing zones, especially the

trained farmers

3. SRI to advice millers on appropriate Sugarcane Best Management Standards

CONCLUSION

The Institute achieved its objective by training 348 participants from the various counties; at end

of training all the farmers trained were awarded certificates of participation and packaged

information on sugarcane production technologies and best management practices. Farmers’

were urged to implement the knowledge and skill acquired for increased production and wealth

creation among the sugarcane farming community. This was an excellent approach and therefore

the institute should organize for more training to other areas so as to increase adoption of

technologies and improve on management of cane.

Report by:

Lillian Odongo

ICT - Documentation

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4.0 PICTORIALS

4.1 Mabanga Bungoma county

Sugarcane farmers in Bungoma county- Group

photoo

Head of Technology Transfer (TT) addressing

farmers

Section of participants

Training in session – Variety identification

The Director, SRI awarding certificates to

farmers

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Training in session- sugarcane weed management

4.2 Kakamega county – Multipurpose training centre

The Director, SRI addressing farmers

SRPS Project Manager giving remarks

Training in session – Soil Management

Training in session – Sugarcane diseases

Section of Participants

SRPS Project Manager awarding certificates

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4.3 Homabay county farmers– Kisii ATC

Homabay county farmers

The Center Director, SRI giving remarks

Training in session – Irrigation and drainage

Training in session – Soil sampling analysis

Training in session – Seedcane multiplication

The Head of Technology transfer awarding certificates

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4.4 Migori county – Kisii ATC

Migori county farmers – Group photo

The Director, SRI giving his remarks

Training in session – sign language interpretation

Training in session – Cost benefit analysis in

sugarcane farming

A section of the participants

Director of Agriculture, Migori county awarding

certificates

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4.5 Kisii/Narok county farmers – Kisii ATC

Kisii/Narok county farmers – Group photo

The head of TT, SRI giving his remarks

Training in session – Keeping farm records

Training in session – Variety recommendation by

zone

Training in session – Cross cutting issues, HIV Aids

and gender issues

Director of food crops, Kisii county awarding

certificates

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4.6 Kericho county (Soin/Muhoroni farmers)– Tea Research Institute (TRI)

Soin/Muhoroni farmers, Kericho county – Group

photo

A group pf people living with disability (PDW)

Training in session – Seedcane selection

Training in session – Cane Establishment

Training in session – Enterprises diversification

The Head of TT awarding certificates

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4.7 Kisumu county (Kibos/Chemelil)- Tea Research Institute (TRI)

Kibos/Chemelil farmers, Kericho county – Group

photo

The Centre Director, TRI giving remarks

Training in session – E-services in KALRO-SRI

Training in session – Drug & Substance Abuse

Training evaluation session

The Head of TT and EU Administrator awarding

certificates

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