Assessing the effect of sugarcane farming on household food security :

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between sugarcane farming and household food security in Mafubira Sub-county, Jinja District. The study was guided by two objectives namely: to establish the effect of land allocation to sugarcane farming on household food security and to determine the effect of income from the sales of sugarcane on household food security. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was heads of sugarcane farming households and Village Chairpersons of sugarcane out growers association. The study relied mostly on primary data that was collected using questionnaires, interview guide, focus group discussion guide and observation guide. The study generated both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data was analysed by tabulating and computing percentages while qualitative data was analysed by coding and establishing common themes that emerged in the process of interacting with participants. The findings show that sugarcane farmers owning land less than ten acres are more vulnerable to food insecurity. The findings also show that sugarcane farming plays an important role in the livelihood of farmers as it generates income used to purchase food, acquire more land, pay school fees for children, access to better health care, construction of decent homesteads and access to agricultural loans. The study further established that sugarcane farming contributes to environmental degradation through encroachment on marginal land and increased soil exhaustion due to monoculture. From the findings the study concluded that sugarcane farming had a negative effect on household food security among people in Mafubira Sub-county. This is because much of the land had been taken up by sugarcane farming leaving small plots for food crops. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that there is need to pass an ordinance to encourage people owning land less than five acres to practice mixed farming, crop diversification and using modern scientific methods of farming