My name is Richard Byaruhanga from Kichandi village, Bikonzi sub-county, East zone, Bujenje County, Masindi district. I started growing cane in 2002 with a cane area of 3.5 hectares (approx. 8.6 acres) and through the years to-date, because of the revenue obtained from my initial investment in cane growing, the availability of land and continuous support from Kinyara; I have managed to expand my area to 50 hectares (123.6acres).
Kinyara has persistently supported me in my cane growing business endeavour through agronomy and commercial farming incentives; which notably include a tractor loan that was processed in a very timely manner with favourable payment terms. This tractor has not only immensely improved my cane growing productivity but also enabled me to diversify my income in-flows through hiring it out to other farmers.
Additionally, among other incentives, credit facilities for bio-fertilizers have also been extended to me and the payment recovered after harvesting which is approximately 19 months later.
My cane growing partnership with Kinyara Sugar has resulted into a sustainable income stream that has enabled me to continuously expand my cane growing area, comfortably fund the education of my children, provide my family necessities, construct a residential house and commercial structures. Furthermore, I have been able to diversify into coffee growing and eucalyptus tree growing as a means of storing wealth as well as expand my food crop farming area. Also, I have improved my abilities in book keeping, investing and re-investing decision making, expenditure management and savings.
It is key to note that higher cane yields result into higher revenue; therefore to sustain my yields, I keenly purpose to carry-out my agronomy very well through inter row cultivation with a tractor to soften the soil and disintegrate the old cane roots to pave way for sprouting of new ones, trash lining in order to control weeds as well as keep the soils moist. To boost the soil fertility, I apply fertilizers and urea supplemented with timely weeding at the respective growth stages.
I am very grateful and humbled by the support accorded to me by KSL that is made possible through Kinyara’s contract farming practice. I encourage potential farmers to grow cane putting in consideration the following fundamental factors;
• Cane growing should be treated as a business otherwise you won’t realize your investment without utmost supervision, dedication and proper book keeping.
• Consider an area of 2.5 hectares (approx. 6 acres) as your minimum at-least to realize favourable revenue otherwise an area less than that should instead be used for growing other shorter maturing crops such as food crops, coffee, and maize among others.
• Key focus should be put on improving the yields. 

I am Musindi Amos a resident of Kababgo village, Budongo sub-county, Bujenje County, Masindi district. In 1999, while I was still a young man, I was inspired by a number of successful sugarcane farmers and developed big dreams of becoming as wealthy as they were; which is when I started growing cane on an area of 1.3 hectares (approx. 3.2acres). To-date I have made an addition of 93.5 hectares. My key driving forces in continuing to grow cane are the profits obtained and the fact that the cane is literally already taken as soon as it is planted unlike other crops due to the contract farming practiced by Kinyara Sugar Limited. Through the years, Kinyara Sugar has continued to support me with a number of agronomy activities such as bush clearing while developing new fields, 1st ploughing, 2nd ploughing, harrowing, furrowing and seed cane delivery. Furthermore, harvesting and transportation are hustle free on my part since they are also managed by Kinyara; greatly eliminating delays and exploitation by transporters and harvesting labourers. Kinyara has also aided me with fertilizers which have greatly boosted my average yield to 100 tonnes per hectare. These services are done on loan basis which means without cash, I am able to carry out my farm operations and achieve good yields given the credit facility. Kinyara has also supported me in post-harvest activities such as inter-row cultivation which is a form of weeding in itself, helps break the old roots which enhances development of new ones and softens the soil. This holistically facilitates proper soil aeration and water percolation which improves crop productivity.
The income obtained from growing sugarcane has enabled me purchase land to the tune of 200 acres; which is a big turning point in my life, I have been able to pay school fees for my brothers, sisters and my children in good schools, I purchased a vehicle which has eased my sugar cane farming operations movement as well as other daily movements. In addition to that, I have also built 2 nice home steads in Kabango and in the central division, Masindi Municipality. All credit goes to Kinyara Sugar for improving my standard of living immensely.
Sugarcane growing is a profitable venture and I would recommend any persons interested to carry it out.
Key factors to consider before undertaking cane growing are;
• It has a long gestation period which calls for patience, financial discipline and multiple sources of income to avoid situations where one sells the cane prematurely to illicit buyers (poachers) hence earning less income than the actual earnings from Kinyara.
• Tremendous focus has to be put on practicing proper agronomy as this boosts one’s yield to approx. 100 tonnes to 160 tonnes per hectare depending on the agronomy practices. Greater yields earn you higher revenues even if the market price is fluctuating. 

I am Samuel Wambabya a sugarcane farmer registered with Kinyara Sugar Limited under the contract farming model. I reside in the Western Zone, Nyakyeenju village, Budongo sub-county, Bujenje County, Masindi district.
Kinyara Sugar as continued to support me with various incentives which has greatly simplified my operations and improved productivity of my 50 hectares sugar cane farming area tremendously. The incentives provided included a tractor with all its implements under the Kinyara farmers’ tractor loan program, chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizers, cane agronomy advisory services among others.
The support from Kinyara has resulted into me being able to generate revenue from my cane growing operations hereby improving my standard of living and general well being. Cases in point are; I have managed to finance construction of a housing facility for my family, increase my cane growing area, fund education of my children and relatives, and meet my daily basic needs and necessities. I have also managed to diversify into other businesses through savings obtained from my sugarcane growing partnership with Kinyara Sugar Limited.
When I started growing cane, I had 5 hectares which I have managed to increase to 50 hectares currently. The key factors that inspired me to expand my cane growing area were: the tractor received from Kinyara, prompt lump-sum payments by Kinyara for cane supplied, a reliable cane transportation system managed by Kinyara Sugar, availability of revenue earned from Kinyara which enabled me finance acquisition of land for expansion.
Being involved in cane growing with the support of Kinyara has enabled me learn and improve my business and commercial farming skills such as planning, apportioning revenues and recapitalization of my cane growing business among others.
The key success factor in growing cane is focusing on yield, a factor that you are directly control of. In pursuit of the same, I prepare the land and plant in a timely manner, carryout the recommend agronomy practices such as timely application of the correct type of fertilizers, timely weeding, carefully phasing the planting of cane and developing manageable field sizes among other practices.
I would highly recommend sugar cane growing but the most fundamental thing one should focus on as prior mentioned is yield. (Tonnage per hectare). The higher the tonnage per hectare, the higher the revenue obtained per hectare. It is also advisable to start with a small manageable field and expand gradually. Always seek agronomy advisory and try as much as possible to avoid high interest loans.
I remain very grateful for the partnership with Kinyara Sugar Limited.