Agriculture and Food Authority Presentation by: SOLOMON ODERA Interim Head of Sugar Directorate Agriculture and Food Authority November, 2017 KENYA SUGARCANE INDUSTRY
OUTLINE 1) Introduction 2) Kenyan sugarcane farming 3) Kenya Sugar Production trends 4) Investment Opportunities
INTRODUCTION The Kenya sugar industry started 95 years ago in the Western region bordering Lake Victoria. There are eleven factories which are located in the Western Region and in the Coastal area.
ROLE IN THE ECONOMY The sugar industry plays an important role in the socio-economic development of Kenya. An estimated six million Kenyans derive their livelihood directly or indirectly from the sugar industry. It sustains about 13% of the national population of 45 million. It contributes Ksh. 72 Billion (US $700 M) to GDP.
SUGARCANE GROWING IN KENYA Cane growing in Kenya is mainly rain fed Long rains start in April to June - planting is vigorous around the said months. January, February, March, July, August and September are mostly appropriate for harvesting. Short rains are experienced from October to November when mild planting takes place. The factories are supported by over 250,000 farmers who supply 85% of the cane required.
SUGARCANE HARVESTING Harvesting is manual Attempt to introduce mechanical harvesting could not work due to anticipated job loss. Kwale International Sugar Company at the Coastal region has mechanized harvesting. Loading is mostly done mechanically.
SUGARCANE PRODUCTION In 2016 Sugarcane Production Area under cane - 6.6 Million MT - 220,997 Hectares Cost of Sugarcane production - $1500 per hectare End of 2016,Yield estimated at - 60.55 T per hectare
SUGARCANE PAYMENT Sugarcane Payment is still based on weight. The Industry recently installed Cane Testing Units to adopt the universal cane payment model based on sucrose content. Sugarcane pricing is based on sugar prices through the Sugarcane Pricing Committee
PRODUCTION TRENDS As at the end of 2016 ; Area under sugarcane totaled 220,997 hectares. Cane delivered to the mills was 6.6 million tons. Total installed crushing capacity is currently rated at 39,250 Tons per day. When installed capacity is fully utilized, the industry is capable of producing over 1.1 million Tons of sugar in a year.
Sugar production, consumption, import and export (Metric Tons) trends. YEAR PRODUCTION CONSUMPTION IMPORTS EXPORTS 2013 600,179 841,957 238,046 104 2014 592,668 860,084 192,121 356 2015 635,674 889,233 247,389 54 2016 639,741 916,871 334,109 98
PRIVATIZATION OF THE INDUSTRY The Government of Kenya has been keen to privatize the Industry. A Privatization Commission was put in place to develop appropriate program; the process is on coarse. This shall cover all the five(5) factories that are still government owned.
MAIN CHALLENGES High cost of production. Low/Declining yield. Slow adoptation of new varieties Slow adoptation to technology. Failure to meet domestic consumption targets. State of some machinery is obsolete. Poor state of the infrastructure.
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Some of the areas where investment opportunities exist in the Kenya Sugar Industry are; 1. Farm level There is room for expansion of existing irrigation projects in both Nucleus estates and Outgrowers farms for higher yields. Efficient sugarcane transportation system Commercial seed cane production
2. Factory Rehabilitation, optimization and expansion of production capacities of existing factories to meet the rising demand of sugar for local consumption and exports; Product diversification at factory level to include; Ethanol Refined sugar Organic fertilizer Co-generation Paper
Establishment of new sugar factories especially in high potential areas, such as Tana River Delta in the coastal region Establishment of white sugar refineries to meet the rising domestic demand for industrial sugar.
3. Marketing Branding and packaging Distribution Grading and classification Export
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