Assessment of environmental management practices amongst tobacco farmers in Kuria West Sub-county, Migori County

Abstract

Kenya is one of the tobacco growing countries in Africa with most tobacco being produced in South Nyanza, Eastern and Western parts of Kenya. Despite the increasing deterioration of the environment caused by tobacco farming, very little is known about the measures in place to manage the situation. It is not clear to what extent the environmental management practices are employed in tobacco growing zones.Furthermore, it is not known how widespread the environmental degradation and environmental deterioration is in tobacco growing zones. The study focused on assessing environmental management practices being carried out by tobacco farmers to curb forest and soil degradation. The specific objectives were: to explore the impacts of tobacco farming on soil and forest resources; to identify the environmental management practices being practiced by tobacco farmers; and lastly to examine the environmental management practices being promoted by tobacco companies.The Data was collected from a sample of 173tobacco farmersin Kuria West Sub-county. The data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, secondary data, direct observation, and taking of photos. The collected data was analysed descriptively using SPSS and Excel computer programme and was presented in bar graphs, pie charts, tables and texts. The research findings show that indigenous species in the study area disappeared over time because of tobacco curing with 60% respondent. Of the respondents, only 22% used improved barn while 78% used traditional barn which is non-energy saving barn, therefore consuming tonnes of wood compared to improved barns. The study showed that 98% of the respondents had not been advised by tobacco companies to use any other method to control pests except chemical pesticides and 97% of the respondents believed tobacco companies do not promote alternative source of energy for curing tobacco other than wood. The study indicated that there existed negative impacts to the soil and forest resources caused by tobacco farming. Although Farmers had adopted a few practices,most of the forest and soil management practices were non-existent in the study area and tobacco companies were yet to introduce them. On the other hand, tobacco companies weredoing little to correct the situation. Most of the efforts by tobacco companies were directed towards ensuring good tobacco harvest and good quality cured leaves regardless of the harm caused to the environment. The study concluded that tobacco farming has adverse effects on the soil and forest resources, the very few existing environmental management practices practised by few tobacco farmers and tobacco companies were not adequate to mitigate the negative impacts caused by tobacco farming. To avert biodiversity loss, authorities should apply the laws strictly to curb cutting down of indigenous trees. On the same note, tobacco companies should consider promoting indigenous species for reforestation rather than exotic species. In addition, farmers should explore alternative ways of curing tobacco other than flue curing that have less impact to the forest resources.