Abstract

This study sought to determine the effects of ancestral land size on food production in Dede Division, Migori County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a sample size of 370 households drawn from a population of 9,503 households within the Division. Quantitative data was collected using household questionnaires administered to household heads. Qualitative data was obtained using key informant interviews (KII). Primary data was collected from direct observation and use of photography. Secondary data was obtained from published works, books and journals. Quantitative data was cross tabulated and the analysis presented in tables. Qualitative data was coded, compiled and integrated into the text. The study revealed that Sugarcane was the most preferred cash crop by the beneficiaries followed by tobacco (17.0%) and coffee (12.7%). The study therefore concluded that; the allure of income generated through cash crop production contributed to the expansion of the area dedicated to cash crops leading to a constriction of the land available for food crops. This study recommends that; the Government formulates a policy framework to streamline subdivision of ancestral land.

Keywords

Ancestral, Land Size, Food Production.

Background of the Study

By the 7th century, the techniques and knowledge of sugar production had reached China. In the following century, Arab traders and settlers spread sugarcane cultivation into Mesopotamia, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain. From there, Christopher Columbus later introduced the crop to Central and South America (Nassar, 2013). Between 1975 and 1986, Brazil experienced a rapid expansion in sugarcane acreage, driven almost entirely by the rising domestic demand for ethanol feedstock under its national biofuel program. On a global scale, Central America and the Caribbean held the highest proportion of cultivated land dedicated to sugarcane between 1969 and 2007, with about 7% of all farmland dedicated to the crop. During the same period, Brazil allocated approximately 4.4% of its cultivated land to sugarcane production (Fischer et al., 2008).

Fischer et al. (2008) in a study warned that in Brazil, sugarcane expansion could contribute to deforestation, biodiversity loss and widespread hunger—either directly through encroachment into unprotected native forests, fertile agricultural land or indirectly by displacing other land uses such as livestock grazing, maize plantations or soybean cultivation, which would then shift into new forested areas or be stopped altogether. Similar concerns have been identified in other regions of the world. For example, Fernandez and Nuthal (2012) noted that on June 10, 1988, sugarcane lands in Philippines were incorporated into the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). This reform initiative aimed to redistribute land to those who worked in it—such as smallholder farmers, tenants, and agricultural laborers. Under CARP guidelines, a landowner could retain up to 5 hectares, while each child aged 15 or older could be allocated up to 3 hectares. The goal was to establish economically viable, owner-operated farms that would boost productivity and promote fairness among plantation owners, tenants, and workers within the sugar sector. However, despite its intentions, the program has encountered significant obstacles, particularly regarding land allocation. One of the most critical issues has been the diversion of land away from food production, undermining both the economic stability and the social welfare of affected communities.

Outgrowing is a type of contract farming with long and complex history in Africa, but has recently emerged at the Centre of global debates about agricultural commercialization. Contract farming, it is argued, provides an opportunity for the rural poor to participate in production in commercial value chains and access markets for their produce. Contract farming is widely used by agribusiness companies to produce exports of high value crops such as sugarcane, coffee and tea; it can only benefit the rural poor in developing countries if an adequate governance and legal policy framework on land subdivision, to regulate cash crop versus food crop is in place. Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL), the largest sugar company in Tanzania, contributing almost three quarters of sugar being produced in the country illustrates these changes clearly (Sulle, 2017). In South Nyanza sugar belt where the study area is, the desire to be economically independent has led to expansion of area under sugarcane farming as farmers donate land to their sons as inheritance hence leading to land fragmentation, hence low food production (Nyangweso, 2011). In 2003, a cane variety named Co 945 occupied the largest cane surface with 30,220 hectares, representing 25% of the total area. Variety N14 came second to occupy 28,262 hectares (23%). A sizeable bulk of the area amounting to 34, 968 hectares (29%) had mixed varieties (Evelyn, 2005). Locally, Sugarcane is primarily grown by small scale farmers which exert pressure on available agricultural land (Kenya, Republic of, 2002). The total land area of Dede Division is 108.2 km2 (10820 hectares). The total land area under small holder sugarcane farms is 59.3 km2 (5930 hectares) out of which 4.1 km2 (410 hectares) is large scale nuclear farm within Dede Division, added to this is the portion dedicated to Tobacco and coffee farming which combined also takes a big portion of arable land (Ndirangu, 2010). Therefore, the current study seeks to establish the effect of ancestral land size on food production in Dede Division, Migori County, Kenya.

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