Contributions of sugarcane sharecropping to the smallholder farmers in Mayuge district

Abstract

This study set out to investigate the economic contributions of sugarcane growing to the households which were contracted to grow sugarcane through the sharecropping system in Mayuge District. It was guided by four objectives, namely to examine the impact of sugarcane farming on family household incomes in Mayuge; analyze the economic implications of sugarcane farming on land and food security in Mayuge; investigate how the sugarcane economy in Mayuge has assisted different social groups to meet their needs at household level; and investigate the drawbacks of sugarcane growing and how they can be mitigated. It was conducted in three sub-counties of Wairasa, Buwaaya and Malongo. It adopted a case study design and covered 100 respondents. The data from the primary sources were gathered using questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Both qualitative and quantitative instruments were employed to analyse the data. The study found out that incomes from sugarcane growing were the main source of livelihood for the people of Mayuge District. These incomes would be received in one lump sum after a long time of waiting – sometimes taking up to three years. Many people would spend much of it purchasing expensive commodities and leave a deficit in the households’ basic requirements. It found that women were the main providers of reproductive labour in the household agricultural activities, in sugarcane production and food production for household consumption. It discovered that they are least compensated for their contribution. Their access to sugarcane pay- off is paltry. This was in form of cash remittances from their husbands who are the registered holders of the land title deeds. The failure of the women to access sugarcane cash and land was greatly affecting their traditional role of food production. Another problem stemmed from the economic temptation of leasing out land to sugarcane sharecroppers with the hope of relying on the rent from the leased land. The farmers would rely on that money to purchase food and other household requirements. This seemed to be unsustainable. The households ended up experiencing constant food insecurity problems. The study ended making various recommendations on how to balance this cash economy that was creating more problems through cash crop production.