Effectiveness of Selected Quasi-Public Extension Services and Field Practices in Reducing Post-harvest Sugarcane Loss among Small holder Farmers in Awendo Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Farmers globally experience post-harvest sugarcane losses that reduces their income. Sony Sugar Company in Kenya instituted field practices in 2011 to reduce this post-harvest loss. Such practices included trailer loading limit and proper gleaning. Farmers are trained on gleaning and sensitised to supervise sugarcane loading. However, a gap exists on effectiveness of these selected field practices and quasi-public extension services. As a result, this study sought to examine effectiveness of the selected quasi-public extension services and field practices in reducing post-harvest sugarcane loss among smallholder farmers in Awendo Sub-County. This study employed a descriptive survey design, guided by the Theory of Change. Target and accessible populations were 3,123 and 2,403 contracted smallholder farmers respectively distributed proportionately across the four wards, namely; North-East, Central, South and West Sakwa. Additionally, all other 67 accessible stakeholders responsible for sugarcane harvesting and transport were purposively included. Supervisors checked the questionnaires for face and content validity. The questionnaire was pilot tested using 30 smallholder farmers from Suna East Sub-County. Data was collected using valid and reliable questionnaires. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficients of 0.749 and 0.711 for smallholder farmers’ and other stakeholders’ questionnaires were established. Only 132 smallholder farmers’ questionnaires were valid giving 89.8% response rate. Descriptive statistics and spearman’s correlation were used to analyse data using SPSS version 21. Post-harvest sugarcane loss had positive relationships with training farmers on sugarcane gleaning (r (130) = .142, p > .05.), sugarcane gleaning during loading (r (130) = .199, p < .05.) and trailer loading limit (r (130) = .129, p > .05.) Sensitisation of farmers on supervision of cane loading had statistically insignificant relationship, r (130) = -.027, p > .05. with post-harvest sugarcane loss. Thus, while training farmers on sugarcane gleaning did not effectively reduce post-harvest sugarcane loss, sensitisation of farmers on supervision of sugarcane loading, gleaning during loading and trailer loading limit effectively reduced post-harvest loss. This study recommends that Sony Sugar Company should enhance its quasi-public extension service of training of farmers on sugarcane gleaning during loading to prevent spillage. Farmers or their agents should be present during loading, glean the sugarcane being scattered by grabbers despite the myriad challenges as benefits outweigh the challenges. Sony Sugar Company through her field staff should ensure trailer load limit is maintained to reduce post-harvest sugarcane loss.