Embrace Cane farming for extra income, Malava schools urged

Learning institutions have been urged to embrace cane farming as one way of generating sustain themselves.

The head of external affairs and communication at the Rai group of companies Kabras branch George Muruli while addressing the invest and grow (I &G) members (West Kabras) education day at Friends Church Shirugu, encouraged the teachers and head of institutions and principals to take up cane farming as it was one sure way of raising enough cash to run and manage the running of schools besides their personal issues.

Muruli said the miller (Kabras sugar Mills) formerly known as West Kenya sugar company was committed in partnering with learning and training institutions to venture into productive cane farming.

“Kabras sugar mills is ready to engage those schools that have extra chunks of land and which they can invest in cane farming as we are willing to take over all the land preparation process from ploughing, harrowing to provision of farm inputs including seed canes and fertilizer after which we will deduct our investment upon harvesting” he said.

The manager said the move was to cushion schools from the many debt they were incurring especially with suppliers with many of the institutions being accused of literally failing to offset the debts on time prompting their suppliers to cut their services to schools.

He said with investment in cane farming the schools can apply for advance loans to pay off the debts and also improve on infrastructure besides the government capitation adding that it was also one way of generating added revenue to run school programmes.

At the same time he also called on the teachers to venture into cane farming either at individual or at group levels.

“Cane farming at individual levels might be tedious especially when one looks at the cost implication but as a group where teachers can lease out land and contact the miller for the planting process, it is a shared prosperity as well as a shared risk and they will be able to enjoy the cooperate social responsibility (CSR) we offer”, said Muruli.

On individual farming, he called on the teachers to be on the forefront of propagating the benefits of cane farming as they have the platform to do so.

Kabras Sugar, recognizes the teaching fraternity as a very noble profession and hence should not be limited within the walls of the classrooms.

“We know you’ve the power to inform the masses within the communities you come from and teachers have been known to be the Main opinion shapers not only locally but national wide too, your decision counts and with your support and involvement into this practice, many will follow suit” he added.

He observed that cane farming and education go hand in hand as most parents plant canes to educate their children from primary to university levels and it is the teachers who should amplify to them to continue investing in the vice.

“We have been giving out advances to parents who have registered their canes with us and who have schools fees and medical issues as long as the local administration and our field assistants confirms to us that the canes are available and the gesture has seen a lot of learners continue with their education and that is why we are now bringing the teachers and institutions on board to strengthen the bond.” he wrapped.

The Kabras invest and grow director Richard Shilaro supported the call noting that it was important for the members to have an extra source of income as it will keep them away from mental health issues and financial stress.

Let us embrace the culture of saving and cane farming is also one way of saving besides also saving with us and in the long run when you harvest your canes you can channel your finances through our Sacco for more benefits.