Abstract:
The study was carried out in Bulongo Sub County in Luuka district to assess the cost - Benefit analysis of sugarcane growing. Sugarcane growing has led to the replacement of cash crops like cotton, coffee among others, for sugarcane. Most of the farmers in the country grow sugarcane for sale while ignoring other consequences of sugarcane growing like food insecurity leading to rampant starvation and malnutrition, loss of biodiversity through habitat destruction, loss of soil fertility, climatic change leading to diseases, increased school drop outs. The general objective of the study was to assess costs Versus Benefits of sugarcane growing to livelihoods of the people of Bulongo sub-county and the Specific Objectives included; To find out the drivers of sugar cane growing, to identify the costs incurred and the benefits obtained from sugarcane growing to the people, to suggest the best approaches to sustainable sugarcane growing in the Sub County.
The study targeted sugarcane farmers and data was obtained from a sample of 70 respondents of the age ranging from & above years. The study involved the use of mixed methods and farm households were selected by purposive and snow ball sampling techniques. The methods of data collection that were used are self-administered Questionnaire, Interview, Observation and finally recording the obtained data in a notebook. Data after being collected, was coded, edited, summarized in manual sheet and entered, in statistical packages of Microsoft Excel and SPSS analysis. This into generated frequency tables, Pie Charts and bar graphs.
From the findings, it was generally concluded that benefits from growing sugarcane are greater than the costs incurred in its production (80% of the respondents said that the benefits they obtain from growing sugarcane greater than costs they incur during the activity). The study recommended increased sensitization of the people about the sustainable use of available -natural resources and, the set rules and regulations governing sugarcane growing. The study also recommended government to protect sugarcane out growers against exploitation by the Sugar factories by setting minimum price for the sugarcane product. It also recommended enforcing the law by local leaders and the police to arrest and prosecute plantation owners who are found using children under the age of schooling.
