This paper reports on one of the findings of a study undertaken to investigate the coping strategies used by small-scale sugarcane growers in Bungoma County, Kenya. A descriptive survey design was used. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of the divisions, villages, key respondents, and sugarcane farmers to be interviewed. Primary data were collected using questionnaires from 100 small-scale sugarcane growers’ household heads from Bumula Sub-County. Data were collected during the month of December 2016.  Qualitative data collected were analysed thematically. Quantitative data was analysed using regression in SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel. Results from small-scale sugarcane farmers in Bumula Sub-County revealed a declining farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming activities in the area. Coping strategies identified included off-farm income-generating activities, sale of sugarcane by-products and non-contracted cane farming. Significance test qualification was based on a percentage of adjusted R2 and within 0.3 to 0.7 ranges for Beta weight value.  The correlation coefficient (R-value) for the model was 0.362, indicating a moderately positive relationship between variables. The coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.284 (28.4%). Adopted coping strategies accounted for 28.4% variability in the declining farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming. This result suggests the existence of other factors that explain the remaining 71.6% of the variation in the declining farmers’ participation. Farmers should enhance both on-farm and off-farm income-generating activities, sugarcane by-products value addition, and non-contracted cane farming in order to reverse the outcome and result in an enhanced farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming activities by 36.2%

The study was carried out to examine trends in the output and acreage in the Mumias Sugar belt from the period 1985-2015. We used secondary data collected from Mumais Sugar Company records for the period 1985-2015 for the study. The trend analysis of sugarcane production in the Mumias Sugar Belt is important, where sugarcane is the major cash crop and absorbs a majority of the agrarian population in the region. The study used the expert modeler, an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), to predict the output. The forecast period was 2016 through March 2021 and employed two scenarios: I) forecast with +2 harvesting age predictor modification and ii) forecast with +10 hectares predictor modification. The predicted value showed good agreement with the observed values from the series plot, indicating that the model has a good predictive ability. The application of the model revealed that the results in the prediction tables show that, in each of the six forecasted quarters, increasing the harvesting age by two months is expected to generate about 4.52 more tons of yields per hectare than increasing area harvested by 10 hectares that would decrease the yield by 0.01 tons per hectare. The study recommends research and development on sugarcane varieties that mature early, making sugarcane-based Agri- enterprises and sustainable. In addition, Mumias Sugar Company should seek profitable techniques to increase the recovery per cent, and farmers seek good management practices to increase the efficiency of the sugarcane farms in the sugar belt.

The sugar industry is an important agricultural sector in Kenya. In 1995, the industry had employed over 35,000 workers and supported over 2 million people in the region.  The sector contributes about 16% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. Despite of its immense contribution, its output is on decline, standing at 65 tonnes from 100 tonnes per hectare. This paper investigated socio-economic factors affecting sugarcane production in Bungoma County. The study is based on the Production Theory and Correlation Design. The targeted population was 5,838 small scale sugarcane farmers in Bumula Sub-County. The coefficient of determination indicated 67.5% variance in sugarcane output relating to the socio-economic factors of the study variables. The F value was 161.406 indicating that the regression model was fitting well. The mean variance of inflation factor (VIF) was 2.349. The study revealed that education level, farm size, land ownership, farming experience, incentives, record keeping systems, extension education, cane by-products and non-contracted cane farming had significant positive effect on cane output. Input cost was found to be a major contributor of declining cane output. The study recommends that poor cane pricing, lack   of   extension   education and inadequate financing in the sugar sector be addressed.

This paper investigates Curriculum Implementation in Public Primary Schools by the Management Boards in Tongeren Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya. The study objective was to establish the preparedness of the school management boards in curriculum implementation. The sample size for the study was 136 where Board members were 92 while teaching staff were 44. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Data was collected through questionnaires and interview schedules. The questionnaire was used on the education officers, the headteachers, and teachers, while the interview schedules were used on the School Management Boards. Descriptive and inferential analysis techniques were used to analyze the collected data. Cronbach Alpha’s measure of internal consistency yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.756 on the questionnaire. Qualitative data collected were analyzed thematically. Quantitative data gathered from the field survey was analyzed using regression on SPSS version 25. The study noted that 96.8% of the school management boards were not initially trained in curriculum implementation by Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI). Findings further indicate that the correlation coefficient (R-value) for the model was 0.151, indicating a low positive relationship between the variables. The Coefficient of determination (R2) was 23%, implying that the studied variables accounted for 23% variability in the curriculum implementation in public primary schools at a 95% confidence interval. This was an indication that members of the school management boards were unlikely to oversee proper curriculum implementation for lack of management skills. Sensitization and organization of regular in-service courses for school management boards on matters of curriculum implementation are recommended.

This paper reports on one of the findings of a study undertaken to investigate the coping strategies used by small-scale sugarcane growers in Bungoma County, Kenya. A descriptive survey design was used. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of the divisions, villages, key respondents, and sugarcane farmers to be interviewed. Primary data were collected using questionnaires from 100 small-scale sugarcane growers’ household heads from Bumula Sub-County. Data were collected during the month of December 2016.  Qualitative data collected were analysed thematically. Quantitative data was analysed using regression in SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel. Results from small-scale sugarcane farmers in Bumula Sub-County revealed a declining farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming activities in the area. Coping strategies identified included off-farm income-generating activities, sale of sugarcane by-products and non-contracted cane farming. Significance test qualification was based on a percentage of adjusted R2 and within 0.3 to 0.7 ranges for Beta weight value.  The correlation coefficient (R-value) for the model was 0.362, indicating a moderately positive relationship between variables. The coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.284 (28.4%). Adopted coping strategies accounted for 28.4% variability in the declining farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming. This result suggests the existence of other factors that explain the remaining 71.6% of the variation in the declining farmers’ participation. Farmers should enhance both on-farm and off-farm income-generating activities, sugarcane by-products value addition, and non-contracted cane farming in order to reverse the outcome and result in an enhanced farmers’ participation in sugarcane farming activities by 36.2%