Expansion of Commercial Sugarcane Cultivation among Smallholder Farmers in Uganda: Implications for Household Food Security

Abstract

Understanding the impact of commercial agriculture in the face of global change is critical to support strategies that ensure food security and alleviate poverty among households. We assessed the contribution of commercial sugarcane cultivation to household-level food security among smallholder farmers in Busoga sub-region, eastern Uganda. Land use changes are motivated by quick commercial gains rather than sustained food production; a situation that influences food security. The majority of households cultivate few crop varieties, lack adequate and nutritious foods, and have inadequate income to purchase food to meet their needs. Inadequacy of food within some commercial sugarcane-cultivating households suggests that generating income does not necessarily increase food security. To cope with food insecurity, households offer labour in exchange for food, borrow food, ration food, and at times steal. This is exacerbated by increasing food crop failures, large family sizes, trade in food items, and declining availability of food and land for food production. Commercial sugarcane cultivation is the main driver of food insecurity but given its perceived economic benefits, future sugarcane plantations expansion in the region is probably inevitable. Therefore, future policy should be designed to provide triple-win strategies (i.e., food security, poverty alleviation, and climate change adaptation) that provide sustainable livelihoods.

Expansion of Sugarcane Production in Ethiopia: Welfare Opportunity or Devastation?

“…When looking at crops by decomposing into cereals and pulses, again the model predicted that both activities experienced a reduction in output by 0.04% and 0.51%, respec-tively. This result is consistent with the findings of Terry and Ryder (2007) and Mwavu et al (2018), who also estimated reduction in crops production caused by commercial sugarcane farming. Overall, the reduction in food processing output accompanied with the reduction in cereals and pulses would be detrimental for domestic food supplies and would increase food insecurity and malnutrition for households in Ethiopia.…”

“…The increase in the import of wheat by 2.05%, as presented in Table 2, is a good sign of increased food insecurity. Previous studies by Terry and Ryder (2007), Hughes et al (2016) and Mwavu et al (2018) support our finding that expansion of sugarcane is contributing to the food insecurity of households.…”

“…Hughes et al (2016) investigated the effects of large scale sugarcane production on households' food security in El Salvador and their findings implied that farmers involved in commercial sugarcane farming were driven out of business and were vulnerable to food insecurity. A recent study on the expansion of commercial sugarcane production and its impacts on households' food security in Uganda by Mwavu et al (2018) meanwhile found that sugarcane production was among the main causes of food insecurity for households who were engaged in this sector. They also reported that the increased use of land for sugarcane cultivation had reduced the availability of arable fields designated for food crops production.…”

“…Studies by Kennedy and Cogill (1988), Rist et al (2010), Akoth (2016) and Rocca (2016) have found that replacing land for sugarcane cultivation has not jeop-ardised the income and food security status of households. In contrast, studies by Terry and Ryder (2007), Sparovek et al (2009), Amrouk et al (2013), Hughes et al (2016) and Mwavu et al (2018) reported that land diversion for sugarcane expansion has had detrimental effects on the income and livelihood of households. Similarly, previous studies in Ethiopia by Mengistu et al (2016) and Ingebretsen (2015) predicted adverse results and contradicted the findings of Timkete (2017), who found a positive but small change in GDP.…”

Editorial for Special Issue: “Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate”

“…Mwavu, Kalema, Bateganya, Byakagaba, Waiswa, Enuru and Mbogga [18] Impacts of the expansion of sugar cane as a commercial crop on household food security and local landscapes, Uganda…”