Uganda's Sugarcane Boom Fails to Feed a Third of Households
Despite a tripling of sugarcane production in the Busoga region, about a third of households still go hungry, with research pointing to a key issue: sugar mills mainly signing contracts with men, leaving women to feed families with limited resources
Uganda's sugarcane boom has not reduced hunger in the Busoga region, with about a third of households reporting going whole days without food in the 2024 census. The amount of sugar cane planted in the region has tripled in size between 2000 and 2024, with seven mills operating in and around the area.
Tens of thousands of families grow cane on their own land as 'outgrowers', selling it on contracts to the sugar mills. However, research suggests that the main problem is that sugar mills mainly sign contracts with men, leaving women responsible for feeding families with limited land and resources.
The government stopped setting sugar prices and opened the industry to the private sector in 1991, leading to an influx of new investors in the region. Sugarcane has been grown commercially in Busoga since the 1920s, and the industry has continued to grow, with the population of the region standing at around 4.3 million people.
About 20% of the available farmland in Busoga is used by women for planting food crops, highlighting the limited resources available to them. The prices of sugarcane are also dropping, which may further exacerbate the issue of hunger in the region.
## Why it matters The issue of hunger in Busoga is a complex one, with the sugarcane industry playing a significant role in the region's economy. However, the fact that sugar mills mainly sign contracts with men, leaving women to feed families with limited resources, is a key factor contributing to the problem. The government and sugar companies are urged to change their practices to address this issue and ensure that the benefits of the sugarcane industry are shared more equitably.
The Busoga region's fertile plateau and abundant water resources make it an ideal place for farming, but the prevalence of hunger in the area is a stark reminder that economic growth does not always translate to food security. As the sugarcane industry continues to grow, it is essential that the needs of all stakeholders, particularly women, are taken into account to ensure that the region's economic development is inclusive and sustainable.
