SUGARCANE PRODUCTION AMONG A2 FARMERS IN THE HIPPO VALLEY ESTATES AND THE QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, ZIMBABWE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v0i0.427Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
A2 Farmers, challenges, sustainable development, Hippo Valley, ZimbabweΠερίληψη
Sugarcane production requires equipment, significant amounts of agro-chemicals including fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides irrigation and heavy machinery that can lead to environmental degradation (Soil Science Society of America, 1997). The expansion of plantation sugarcane farming among A2 farmers in the Hippo Valley estates without proper institutional mechanisms presents a myriad of problems ecologically, socially and economically. Being a semi-arid area, any extensive extractive ventures would exacerbate competition for already scarce land and water resources. Most of the small scale and some of the commercial farmers are not adequately equipped with sustainable ways of sugarcane farming hence, threatening the country’s sugar industry’s competitiveness in relation to other world class producers and industries. Expansion of sugarcane plantations means that natural resources such as forests, grassland and shrubs, most of which double up as pastureland risk being encroached into. That none of these natural resources is under legal protection increases the risk of them being mismanaged contributing further to environmental degradation through soil erosion, loss of species, exhaustion of nutrients and interfering with other ecosystem services. Researches which have been conducted show that the principle of sustainable agriculture is broadly accepted but the systematic consideration in practical farm management is still very limited in most tropical sugarcane plantations. This study seeks to bring light on the sustainable ways of sugarcane production among A2 farmers in the Hippo Valley estates and to assess the knowledge of farmers on sustainable sugarcane farming and challenges faced by farmers in trying to implement sustainable sugarcane production. The study was conducted between January and May, 2018 and it shows the challenges confronting Hippo Valley Estates in its quest for sustainable development.
Article visualizations:
Αναφορές
Breakwell, W and Clowes, M.1988, Zimbabwe Sugar Cane Production Manual, ZSA Experiment Station, Harare
Campbell, R. G., Willis, J. R.and May, J. T. 1973. Soil Disturbance by logging with rubber-tired skidders, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 28:218-220
Clemmens, A.J. 1971. Accuracy of irrigation efficacy estimates, Journal of Irrigation Drainage Engineering 123 (6):443-453
Cooper, J. and Dobson, H.2007.The Benefits of Pesticides to Mankind and the Environment, Crop Protection, 26:1337-1348
Hussein, J.1998. Management and Irrigation of Vertisols derived from basalts in Zimbabwe. In M. St. J. Clowes (ed) Fourth Zimbabwe Sugar Seminar (20 August)
Johnston, A. E.1986. Soil organic matter Effects on Soils and Crops, Soil Use Management 2:97-105
KSB. 2008. Kenya Sugar Industry Strategic Plan, 2010-2014, http:www.kenyasugar.co.ke
Manzungu, E. and Pieter van der Zaag, 1996. The Practice of Small Holder Irrigation, University of Zimbabwe, Harare
Marris, E., 2011. Rambunctious Garden: Saving nature in a post-wild world, Bloomsbury Publishing, New York
Matodi, P. 2012. Zimbabwe’s Fast Track Land Reform, Zed Press, London
Ndlovu, L. S. 2000. The Performance of subsurface drip irrigation at Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation during its first season, Proc. S. AfrSug Technol Ass 74: 157-160
Nyati, C.T.1998.Agronomy in Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station Research Report for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998.Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe Research, 3:7-13
Singh, K.K., Patra, M.L. and Sharma, H. C.2000. Environmental Protection and Sustainable Agriculture, Environment and People 6(9):5-9
Soil Science Society of America, 1997, New York
Sukume, C. 2010. Zimbabwe’s Land Reform: Myths and Realities, James Curry, Oxford
