Investors in the sprawling Rift Valley region plan to construct a Ksh1.5 billion ($11.6 million) sugar factory in Soba location in Tinderet Sub-County of Nandi County, where sugarcane is becoming a popular cash crop after eclipsing maize and dairy farming.

The switch to sugarcane coincides with migration of farmers in western Kenya – traditionally known as the sugar-belt – are dumping cash crop in favour of food crops and other cash crops such as coffee and tea.

In western Kenya, sugarcane is derided as a” lazy man” or “poor man’s” crop because of the length of time it takes to harvest and to get payment.

The move by investors in Nandi County is viewed as a major boost to sugarcane farming, which has been thriving mainly in the lower-altitude areas such as Songhor, Soba, Kimwani, Senetwo and Tach Asis because of favourable agro-ecological conditions.

The factory is projected to have an initial milling capacity of 1,250 tonnes of cane per day and will also generate four megawatts of power.

A farmer in Songhor area, John Kibiwott is excited over the upcoming factory, stating that apart from providing a ready market for the cane, the plant would create job opportunities for the locals.

This development promises to stimulate the local economy by encouraging more residents to venture into cane farming as well as enhancing sugar production that would ultimately lead to the moderation of the sugar prices in the local market.

Nandi Governor Stephen Sang expressed support for value chain expansion through agribusiness and sugarcane farming, considering expected returns of Ksh4,200 ($32.5) per tonne. Sugarcane farming has the potential to outperform traditional staples such as maize, the governor said.

The construction of a new factory means that up to 10,000 additional acres of land will be put under the crop to meet the raw materials requirement for the miller to operate optimally. Consequently, a substantial number of farmers are shifting from growing maize to sugarcane, attracted by the profitability and ready market.

Daniel Metto from Kipkaren area has turned his five acres previously dedicated to maize into a cane field, pointing out that sugarcane cultivation is less expensive and offers a more reliable market through support from nearby factories.

Mary Sang from Salien village echoes similar sentiments, noting that sugarcane takes about 18 months to mature but it is much less labour intensive than maize and offers better returns.

With the input cost of sugarcane ranging between Ksh25,000 ($193) and Ksh30,000 ($232) per acre and yields of 60-70 tonnes per hectare, fetching averagely Ksh4,500 per tonne. Farmers like Mary Sang anticipate earnings of about Ksh290,000 ($2,241) per harvest.

“I have already tasted the sweetness of sugarcane farming and only grow some maize for subsistence purpose, while the rest of the farm is under cane,” Paul Kerich, a former maize farmer, said.

Meanwhile, cane farming is becoming a powerful force for economic transformation in Tindiret Sub-County and farmers are gradually moving away from maize to embrace it because of the remarkable income gains.

They are now looking forward to a local processing facility that will further cement their prosperity.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sammy Mwibanda