Researchers seek to increase production of sugar beets, a type of root vegetable, to supplement Kenya’s high demand for sugar and sweeteners.
In Kenya, demand for sugar exceeds supply, forcing the country to import, yet researchers say sweeteners can be extracted from sugar beets, similar to countries like the UK, where sugar from beets makes up more than half of the sugar consumed in the world. nation.
James Kariuki, founder of the International Research and Development Organization, says the tropical crop could be a sugar substitute and a more efficient option for sugarcane.
“The sugar deficit we are experiencing as a country can be addressed by adopting sugar beet growth and processing to extract sugar,” he told Business Daily.
Sugar beets are a root vegetable grown for their high sugar content, and they serve as one of the world’s major exporters of sugar, along with sugar cane. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and contains 15 to 20 percent sucrose.
While the crop typically thrives in moderate climates, making it a major crop in regions such as Europe, North America and parts of Asia, Kariuki says Kenya’s climate is suitable for its cultivation.
In the United Kingdom, for example, the cultivation of beets for sugar dates back to 1912. By 2021, the Financial Times reported that about 3,000 farmers in East Anglia and the East Midlands were producing about eight million tons of sugar annually.
“It can grow anywhere in Kenya, including arid and semi-arid areas,” the researcher said.
International Research and Development, a Nairobi-based organization, initially started out as a stove manufacturing company, called Bio-Moto, which produced clean, environmentally friendly cooking appliances.
Culinary companies relied heavily on sugarcane byproducts, but the closure of the Mumias Sugar Company (although it was recently revived by the government) almost led to the closure of the karaoke business.
“Between 2017 and 2019, I researched and settled on sugar beets as an alternative fuel source for the stove,” he said.
The plant produces the fuel used to operate the cooker. In his research, Mr. Kariuki collaborated with experts from Europe, partnering with seed breeders to hybridize the best European sugar beet varieties with local wild tropical species.
“Last year, in 2023, the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (Kephis) approved the crop to be commercialised,” he said.
Since then, the researcher has piloted sugar beet cultivation with more than 300 farmers in Kiambu, Kisumu, Kakamega, Narok and Kajiado.
While tropical sugar beets are primarily grown in temperate regions and are not widely grown in Africa, where the tropical climate favors sugarcane production, some African countries with cold climates or specific agricultural projects have begun experimenting with sugar beets.
These countries include South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia. With the slow uptake of sugar beet cultivation, one might wonder why it is more profitable than sugar cane.
“Sugarcane matures within 12 to 24 months after planting, while sugar beet matures within six months. To fill the sugar deficit, sugar beet is the most viable option,” Kariuki said.
In addition, sugar beets are very productive. According to Mr. Kariuki, the crop, when grown using good agricultural practices, can yield between 120 to 160 tons per acre.
In contrast, small-scale sugarcane farmers typically produce 18.69 tons per acre, less than the national average production of about 24 tons, Kenya Sugar Board data shows.
Sugarcane production has also diminished over the years. According to the latest economic survey, sugarcane production shrank by 36.4 percent, from 8.8 million tons in 2022 to 5.6 million tons in 2023, as many sugar mills closed due to a lack of mature cane for processing. Sugar manufacturing also declined by 40.7 percent during the period under review.
Describing sugar beet as a multi-purpose crop, Mr Kariuki said other by-products of sugar beet include agricultural lime, animal feed, fuel, polymers and ethanol.
Polymers extracted from sugar beets are biodegradable materials derived from non-sugar components of the plant, such as pulp and fibre.
As Mr Kariuki continues to create public awareness on sugar beet, he calls on the government to liberalize the agricultural sector to unlock the opportunities it offers, as sugar beet cultivation can also provide farmers with better returns after sugarcane yields declined by 24.7%. percent from Sh39.4 billion in 2022 to Sh29.6 billion in 2023.
He urges the government to facilitate the process of marketing crops such as sugar beets, noting that it took years to commercialize its growth despite its many benefits.
“The government should instead focus on setting standards,” he said.