Ledama Suke shares tips for successful sugarcane Farming in Maasai Land Transmara, #sugarcanefarming

So, Ledama, you know, when we are talking about farming, it's all about, it's an enterprise. Is sugarcane farming profitable? It is profitable. It's a long-term project. It's a long-term project. Profitable. Okay, profitable. Yes. So, if someone is farming one acre of sugarcane, how much are they supposed to get as a profit or as returns in one acre? And after how long? The story of Naftalimocha. Naftalimocha. Hello, good morning, good morning. Welcome to my YouTube channel. My name is Naftalimocha. Consider subscribing to this YouTube channel. Like and share this video so that you can be able to grow. And today I'm so happy because nowadays I've decided that I'll be giving you more of farming videos rather than other videos. So, I hope you'll really appreciate. And so, today I'm with my friend here. His name is? Isaac Ledamasuke. Isaac Ledamasuke and your YouTube channel? Ledamasuke. So, I'm in Kilgoris. Where exactly is this in Kilgoris? Naronyo sublocation. Naronyo sublocation in Kilgoris. Yes. If you can see toward that horizon, that is the Kisii County. That is Geteri. And my home is just past that end, that is Nyamira County. So, today we are going to talk about sugarcane farming because my friend is a sugarcane farmer. So, all that you can see that on all those greens you can see there, the other side of the hill. Those are sugarcane plantations. So, he's a sugarcane farmer. Yes. And so, he's going to take us through the process of sugarcane farming. Yes. From planting how he does it. Everything that the questions that we are going to ask and he's going to give us a good answer so that you can be able to learn. Yes. So, are you going to give us good answers? Yes, I will give you the responses based on all the questions. Yes. On sugarcane farming. Okay. Because you are upcoming sugarcane farmer. Yes. At least I have an experience. I have harvested once or twice. Yes. So, I know what is sugarcane farming. Yes. So, where have you farmed? Where is your farm from that end? From my hand, you can see the farm. Yes. You can point. Yes. The other side, the one that look white, those are my farms. Yes. And those that green also are also my farms. So, I have two farms, three farms at that side. Okay. That I'm going to show you today all about them. Ah. Yes. So, join us as we go to the sugarcane farms. Thank you. Thank you so much. Let's keep going. Okay. Yeah. So, you are a sugarcane farmer now. I'm an upcoming one. Big, small scale. Is this what you call small scale? But I think it's big. Anyway. But it's good for the start. Sure. So, let's go in. Welcome. Welcome to this farm. Thank you. Wow. So, how large is this? You had harvested here? Yes. Can you tell people what you did here? Yeah. Harvesting was done here one week or two weeks ago. Okay. So, the harvesting has been done. It was harvested here. Sixteen months old? Or fifteen. Fifteen. Fifteen to fifteen. Ah. Yes. So, how large is this? How many acres are these harvested? This one is 1.1. 1.1 acres? Yes. 1.1 acres. Okay. It was able to give me 50 tons. 50 tons? And this is a low. This is a low amount for one acre. Okay. Because it was harvested early. Earlier? Yes. It's supposed to be harvested at what time? According to the agreements with the factory, it's a 24-month period. But because right now the factory are facing a shortage of sugarcane. Yes. They can't sustain their machines. Okay. So, they are harvesting in slower 17 months, even 16. Okay. So, they are now demanding for any sugarcane that is possible for them to make sugarcane. Ah. So, there's a shortage of sugarcane. Right now there's a shortage of sugarcane. Yes. Which means they need more sugarcane farmers. They need more sugarcane farmers. Wow. So, that is an opportunity. And you say this place is called Naronyo? This is now from this road and above, we call it Naronyo. And this? From this road up one, we call it Osupuko. Osupuko? Yes. Osupuko? Yes. Wow. So, let's keep going. Let's keep going. Yeah. So, this is the land that we have harvested. So, are you going to replant again or what are you going to do? In sugarcane farming, when you plant once, we have what we call cut one, cut two, cut three. So, this is cut one. I will again allow it to sprout, cut two, again it will sprout, then it will cut three, then you are done. You are done. Yes. So, in the next like how many weeks, then you will be able to see sprouts here? Yeah. As soon as possible, you should be able to see. This is almost one week after it has been cut. Oh. So, we anticipate the next one week. Actually, I'm supposed to come and prepare this place so that we can be able to separate the line of the sugarcane. Okay. We are going to remove that. Oh. Okay. Here it was harvested. Yeah. We are going to make sure that this one will be removed. Can you remove? This one will be removed. Okay. When this one is removed like this, all the way to the end, so that the part that was carrying the sugarcane slime, it left what? To sprout. It is now left open. Okay. Then the husk will be all along. Oh, like now I can see this is a shooter. So, this one will be open all the way to the end. Yeah. Make sure that all the lines that were in this farm, if there are 50 lines, are visible. And the husk will be in between. Okay. And the essence of the husk being in between, the husk will prevent weed from growing. Oh, yes. So, when the weeds are prevented from growing, what will happen to the sugarcane? They will grow well. And also, it's like a mulch. Actually, it's also a mulch. Ah. It also has another benefit. Okay. The sugarcane is normally eaten by, what do you say, insects or what do you call this? The small insects? Termites. Yeah. So, if I take the sugarcane, something is going to sprout. Ah. That means that the sugarcane was eaten by, there was an insect that went inside the sugarcane. Okay. But when you have the husk here, what will happen? Yeah. It will attract insects. That's the molds. The husk. When the husk is rotting, it will attract what? Insects. Okay. And when those insects are attracted, what will happen? The ants will smell the larvae. Oh, yeah. What will happen? When the larvae attract the ants, the ants will come and eat any other parasite that could have eaten the sugarcane. Ah. Wow. So, in the long run, they find that they are acting as a mulch. Yeah. At the same time, they are acting as a protective to the sugarcane. Yeah. So that they don't be destroyed by the insect-boring or the plant-boring insects. Wow. Yeah. Guys, I hope you are learning. Sure. So, let's proceed to the other part of your sugarcane farm. So, the other part of my sugarcane farm, the sugarcane farm, I already cut it. Yeah. Almost four months ago. Four months ago. The same thing happened. Uh-huh. I had to plant the mulch. Okay. And so, I never… I never… What you find is… Yeah. I did not weed. You did not weed. I just allowed the mulch to be the weeding material. Wow. I still call it the easy mulch. Yeah. What do you say? What do you say about the… Before me. The lazy man's job. So, even sugarcane is a lazy man's job? Sure, it's a lazy man's job because when you plant, when you allow the mulch… Yeah. The mulch will be the… The mulch will be the weeder for you. It's like weeding. Because it's a cover. It will be covering. Wow. So, this one is… This is already now… Four months? After the first harvest. Uh-huh. After the first harvest. Yeah. It's now four months. It didn't harvest yet. Uh-huh. And I have not weeded yet. And are you planning to weed? I don't. I'm not planning to weed. Uh-huh. Okay. Yes. And we are good to go. Wow. So, this one is how many acres? One point three. Up to that end? No. You share with someone? Yes. Wow. So, this one is how many months? This is four months since harvesting. Four months since harvesting. Yeah. So, if you can look at it clearly… Yeah. This is how the mulch I was telling you. Oh, this is how the mulch. For sure, for sure. So, this is the mulch. I think this one is very clear. So, now this is the mulch. So, it has helped. So, there are not many weeds. Are there weeds in the farm? No. Just look at it earlier. Is there any weed around? No weeds. So, can you say sugarcane farming is a lazy man? Yeah. Sugarcane farming is a lazy man job. If you are smart. If you know, you know. Yes. So, let me ask. How long have you been doing sugarcane farming? Let's face the sun. Yes. Sugarcane farming is now a starter. It is a new franchise in Kilgoris. Okay. That is a Transmara Sugar Company. Okay. So, this is a new franchise. You know, it has been a pre-sipe of the Western Kenya region. Yeah. But today we have it in Kilgoris. Yeah. With Transmara Sugar Company. Transmara Sugar Company. Yes. Wow. So, for how long it has been here? The earliest people in this side of Kilgoris… Yeah. They have done one complete season. That is 20 months, 20 months, almost 60 months. Oh. So, those people who were first to plant the sugarcane… Were six months ago. Are finished now. Uprooted the first set. They are now going to the second set. So, we are now in the second generation. Okay. But for me, this is the first one. Okay. This is my first farm. Yeah. Yes. My friend Suke. Yes. So, which sugarcane variety is this? Now, with the sugarcane variety, this one we call it Manuele. Manuele. Yes. Why Manuele? Manuele means hair. Manuele. Manuele means hair. It is hairy and it is a resistant sugarcane. Oh, resistant. Resistant. To? To drought. Uh-huh. And it is also a heavy sugarcane. Oh, it is heavy. It is heavy. Uh-huh. And it does not flower a lot. If you look at that farm. Yeah. You can see some flowers. Yeah. The flower sugarcane is resistant. Uh-huh. But has less weight. Less weight. Yes. So, the more… The lesser the flowering, the better. Yeah, the better. Okay. Yes. Wow. So, the sugarcane flowers, because of maturity? No, we have the higher types of sugarcane. Uh-huh. Maybe I will be able to look for you more about them. Okay. And then I can be able to give you more variety with the precision. Okay. Since we are going to give the precision. Yeah. Being sugarcane is a global… Uh-huh. It is a global enterprise. Yeah. Let me not give my own. That's right. But I will be able to give you some or two. Yeah. That we have shared with our factory. Okay. Yes. What other varieties do you know apart from Manuele? We have Manuele. Okay. And because, as farmers, we have been told Manuele is the best. So, you did Manuele? We have gone with Manuele. Wow. The factory is going for Manuele. But currently, they are propelling another new variety that tend to mature very fast. Very fast. They are saying by 15 months, we should harvest it. Okay. So, there is a new variety they are propelling. Yeah. And the farmers are like, can we take it or we can't take it? Okay. It is still a wait and see jam. Wow. Yes. Let's go to the other farm where they are listing to continue to mature. So, I will take it to Samoan's farm. Yeah. With my neighbor. Yeah. The sugarcane there is almost 15 months. 16 months. Or 15 thereabouts. This one has not been affected. Uh-huh. But they are now ready in the next one month or two months. Yeah. It will be affected. Wow. Yes. So, guys, keep watching. We are going to the other side of the… Yes. Of the farm. Yes. We do the same place at Samoan's farm. Samoan's farm. And it is also a friend. It is a friend. Yeah. It is a teacher. Uh-huh. It is a? A teacher from Switzerland. Uh-huh. Wow. That's good. So, this is 16 months. This is 16 months. Yeah. And it is still growing. You look at it up to here. It is still growing. Wow. So, this is 16 months. And a very good variety. Manuel. This is Manuel. Yes. This is still Manuel. Wow. So, Ledama. Yes. You know, when we are talking about farming, it is all about it is an enterprise. It is an enterprise. Is sugarcane farming profitable? It is profitable. A long-term project. It is a long-term project. Profitable. Okay, profitable. Yes. So, if someone is farming one acre of sugarcane. Yes. How much are they supposed to get as a profit or as returns in one acre? And after how long? How long? I would say now it is almost 20 months. 20 months. And average with a factory is 24 months the best. Uh-huh. But because of the shortage of sugarcane farms. Uh-huh. Because they don't have sugarcane at the moment. Okay. Yes. Wow. But how much profit? Uh-huh. On average if you have one acre. Uh-huh. On average one acre. You see now the sugarcane prices is controlled by the government. Yeah. Before the sugar get bought. Yeah. And currently they are pricing it at almost 4,900. Okay. And then from here we have transport cost that is maybe heavy on the farmer side. Yeah. Because the transport cost is almost 1,400 per ton. Yeah. To the factory. Okay. And that is maybe what is eating large part of the sugar. Of the profit. Okay. We also have another cost that is the cutters. The cutters almost 500. Okay. Remember sugarcane farming. Uh-huh. This is provided. The seeds are provided by the factory. Uh-huh. And so it's like a loan project. Ah. So the factory also will be able to take a share of it. Uh-huh. But on average if you have one acre for those farm that perform so well. Uh-huh. If a farm reproduce you almost 80. 80 tons. Yeah. Almost 80 tons. Yeah. So roughly per acre at least you should get 200,000. Yeah. In 20 months. That is one year. Yeah. Eight months. Yes. Wow. That's so good. Yeah. So can we say maybe that is contract farming from the factory? Is it contract farming? Actually it's contract farming. Because the factory has the seeds. They have the best seeds. Yeah. So they contract farmers. And they have the market. And they have the market again. Yeah. Yes. Wow. So. So we share. We share with them. Uh-huh. Yes. But if it was your own. Yeah. Then the 500 cannot be taken. Okay. To the county. This is a private sector. Okay. Being a private sector. Uh-huh. The factory came. The small sugar came here and said that your land can have sugarcane. Uh-huh. And this is more about a private enterprise. Okay. You need to a small sugar company. Uh-huh. And the factory. This one you don't need subsidies. Uh-huh. The only thing that farmers need is maybe transport cost to be considered. Okay. And this one being a national government issue. Yeah. It is not. It is not about the county government. Uh-huh. The county government is only the benefit also because at least a percentage of the harvest. Yeah. Is taken to it. It used to be 1%. Uh-huh. I'm not sure if the 1% is still there. Okay. But it's not yet there. Uh-huh. But it's something. They get something out of sugarcane farming. Okay. Directly from the factory. Wow. Yes. That was a very good video. That was a very good conversation about sugarcane farming. Yes. Thank you so much, Ledama. Until the next time. Bye-bye. Ciao. Bye-bye.