By: Daisy Okiring
Nandi, Kenya, May 13, 2024- For smallholder sugarcane farmers in Kenya, the path to prosperity is lined with major obstacles. From lacking access to quality inputs and financing to facing the impacts of climate change and poor rural infrastructure, these farmers struggle at every turn to make their operations viable and profitable.
One of the biggest challenges is unreliable access to essential inputs like quality seed cane, fertilizers, and pesticides due to inadequate distribution networks. “It’s a constant struggle for smallholder farmers to afford these inputs,” says Sharon Melly, a sugarcane farmer. “Without access to quality seeds and crop treatments, our yields suffer tremendously.”
Even when they manage to grow a decent crop, smallholder farmers have little power in getting a fair price. They are often forced to sell to millers at low prices due to their limited bargaining power. “The millers can easily exploit us because we have nowhere else to sell our cane,” Melly explains. “On top of that, we face long delays in getting paid, which makes it very difficult to reinvest in our farms.”

Lack of access to agricultural training, modern techniques like climate-smart practices, and mechanized tools also restrains small farmers’ productivity. “Most of us don’t have the latest knowledge and skills on best farming practices,” says Melly. “We could be getting much higher yields if we had better training and resources.”
Financing is another major roadblock, as smallholder farmers typically lack collateral and credit history to secure loans for investments or dealing with financial shocks. Climate change is piling on more pressure, with erratic weather, increased pests and diseases hampering crop growth.
Poor rural infrastructure like bad roads compounds distribution and transportation challenges, leading to post-harvest losses when cane delivery is delayed.
According to Sharon, coordinated efforts from the government, NGOs, private sector and other stakeholders are needed to tackle these manifold problems. Investments in rural infrastructure, farmer training, improving market access, and promoting climate-smart agriculture can uplift the entire sugarcane sector.

“It’s not just about helping individual small farmers,” Sharon states. “Addressing the challenges we face will improve livelihoods for entire cane-growing communities and drive development of the larger agricultural economy.”
For Kenya’s smallholder sugarcane farmers, overcoming their lack of resources and support is crucial to their survival and the growth of the industry overall. Only then can they truly prosper.