Socio-economic impacts of sugarcane growing on food security in Busoga region :

Abstract

The study was carried out in Imaniro Sub County Mayuge District to determine the socio economic impacts of sugarcane growing on food security. The objectives of the study were to assess how sugarcane growing impacts on food security and the policy recommendations to be used to solve the problem. The study composed of sample of 64 respondents and the sampling technique was simple random sampling in selecting samples from farmers where by villages around the sub county ere sampled arid data were analyzed using frequencies in SPSS and Excel. The research used questionnaires and interviews to gather information on sugar cane growing that involved interviewing sugar cane growers in the study area. The study found Out that the majority of the people own land that is used for cultivation of sugarcane and food crops where small scale farmers have not benefited from the growing of sugarcane as the income from the output is less that the costs that were incurred in growing of sugarcane hence getting less income and increasing poverty levels in the area. Also to some extent the respondent who had faced hunger the majority of them was after beginning to grow sugarcane. In conclusion, in order to solve the problem of food insecurity and also put into consideration the issue of land management in Imaniro sub county, the small scale sugarcane out growers allocate quarter of their land to sugarcane growing, to rent other land for sugarcane growing and increase on the acreage of land devoted to food crop growing. This will lead to increased production of food which will help farmers to earn abnormal profits from the sale of food crop products and remain with enough food hence increasing incomes and reducing on food insecurity in Imaniro sub county Mayuge district. Key words: Land allocation, Sugarcane growing, Food crops growing, Food insecurity and Income insecurity.