KENYA STANDARD   DKS 2977 -1:2022  
ICS 67.140.10  
First  Edition  
  
 © KEBS 2022   
 Sugar industry — Code of practice    
Part 1: Primary  production   
 
 
 DKS 2977 -1: 2022  
ii © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
Agriculture and Food Authority — Sugar Directorate  
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Co -operatives  
Ministry of H ealth – Food Safety Unit  
Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute  
National Public Health Laboratories Services  
Government Chemist’s Department  
Kenya Revenue Authority  
University of Nairobi — Department of Food Science and Technology  
Kenafric Industries Limited  
Consumer Information Network  
Trufoods Limited  
Brookside Limited  
Kenya Sweets Limited  
Mars Group Limited  
Muhoroni Sugar Company Limited  
South Nyanza Sugar Company Limited  
West Kenya Sugar Company Limited  
Sukari Industries Limited  
Butali Sugar mills Limited  
Chemilil Sugar Company Limited  
Kibos Sugar and Allied companies  
Transmara Sugar company limited  
KALRO - Sugar Research Institute  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  Suggestions for 
improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, are 
welcome.  
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2022  
Copyright. Users are reminded that by  virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001 of  the Laws of Kenya, copyright subsists 
in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of Sta ndards 
may be reproduced, sto red in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing from the 
Managing Director.   KENYA STANDARD   DKS 2977 -1:2022  
ICS 67.140.10  
First  Edition  
 
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  iii 
  Sugar industry  — code of practice   
Part 1:Primary production  
Kenya Bureau of Standards, Popo Road, Off Mombasa Road,  
P.O. Box  54974 - 00200,  Nairobi, Kenya  
 +254 020 6948000, + 254 722202137, + 254 734600471  
 info@kebs.org  
 @KEBS_ke  
 kenya bureau of standards (kebs)  
  
 DKS 2977 -1: 2022  
iv © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Sugar and sugar products  Technical Committee under the guidance 
of the Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya Bureau of 
Standards  
This Code of Practice is aimed at providing guidance to all stakeholders in the value chain to conduct  all activities 
in a manner that ensures food safety and quality; personnel safety and welfare; environmental protection and 
sustainability. It also intends to enhance compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in Kenya.  
KS xxx:2022  consists of the following parts, under the general title Sugar industry - Code of practice :  
 Part 1: Primary production   
 Part 2: Cane harvesting, Processing  and trade   
 Part 3: Environment al and socio -economic  and sustainability  
This first Edition provides guidelines and covers recommended best practices and requirements for primary 
production of sugarcane . During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following document 
(s): 
KALRO S ugarcane growers guide  
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived from this (these) source (s)  
  DKS 2977 -1: 2022  
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  v 
  Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
Introduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  vi 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  2 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  2 
3 Term s and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
4 Symbols (and abbreviated terms)  ................................ ................................ ...............................  4 
5. General Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  5 
5.1 Documentation and Record Keeping  ................................ ................................ .........................  5 
5.2 Competence  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 6 
5.3 Safety and Security  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  6 
6. Primary Production/Field Operations  ................................ ................................ .........................  6 
6.1 Site Selection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  6 
6.2 Land Preparation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  7 
6.3 Soil Sampling, Analysis and Recommendation  ................................ ................................ ........  7 
6.4 Nurseries  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 7 
6.4.1  Seed Certification  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  8 
6.4.2 Land Requirement  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
6.4.3  Nursery Field Standards  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  8 
6.5  Cane Establishment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  10 
6.5.1 Seed Cane Preparation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  11 
6.5.2  Planting  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 11 
6.5.3  Germination Assessment and Gap Filling  ................................ ................................ ...............  12 
6.6 Crop Protection  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........................  12 
6.6.1  Weed Control  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  12 
6.6.2  Pest Management  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  13 
6.6.3  Diseases Management  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  13 
6.7 Crop Protection Products  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  13 
6.8 Plant Nutrition  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  14 
6.9 Enterprise Diversification  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  15 
6.10  Extension services  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  15 
Annex  A (informative)  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  16 
Biblio graphy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  18 
  
vi © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Introduction  
The Kenyan sugar industry has over the years experienced numerous operational challenges in primary 
production, processing and marketing. Part 1 of this code of practice provides a framework and guidance to 
industry players to embrace industry best practic es, law and order, harmony, fair play, competitiveness, 
discipline and self -regulation among others in primary production . 
 DKS 2977 -1: 2022    
 
© KEBS 2022 – All rights reserved   
 Sugar industry — Code of practice  
Part 1: Primary production  
1 Scope  
This Kenya Standard provides guidelines for achieving requirements for food safety and quality; worker health, 
safety and welfare; environmental protection and sustainability by value chain actors during primary production 
of sugar in Kenya. It applies to all players in the primary production including but not limited to growers, 
harvesters, transporters, county governments and relevant government agencies . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies , see ISO/IEC 
Directives, Part 2). 
I. KS EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods  
II. KS EAS 39, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry — Code of practice  
III. CAC/RCP 1 -1969, Rev. 4 -20031:  Recommended International Code of Practice General Principles of Food 
Hygiene  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
3.1  
audit: A systematic and functionally independent examination to determine whether quality and food safety 
activities and results comply with planne d procedures and whether these procedures are implemented 
effectively and are suitable to achieve objectives.  
 
documentation:  Is the collection, classification and dissemination of information relating to a process or 
procedure usually in written or electronic form  
erosion:  Erosion is the mechanical movement of the land surface by wind, rain, running water or moving ice 
resultin g in the wearing away of land or soil  
food safety : The assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and consumed 
according to its intended use  
off-type:  any seed or plant not a part of the variety in that it deviates in one  or more characteristics from the 
variety as described  
Integrated pest management (IPM ): a consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent 
integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and kee p plant 
protection products and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks 
to human health and the environment  
traceability:  the ability to follow the movement of a feed or food through specified stage(s) of production, 
processing and distribution   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  iii 
  manure:  Decomposed or otherwise treated materials used to maintain or improve plant nutrition and soil 
properties.  
seed cane:  The sections of the stalk of immature cane used for planting  
value chain actors:  Individua l producers of primary agricultural products including propagators and breeders; 
growers, associations and cooperatives; processors and packers; trading companies (including exporters), 
shippers, consolidators and cargo handlers  
pest:  Any injurious, noxious or troublesome insect, fungus, bacterial organism, virus, weed, rodent or other 
plant or animal.  
pest control products:  A product, device, organism, substance or thing that is manufactured, represented, 
sold or used as a means for d irectly or indirectly controlling, preventing, destroying, attracting or repelling any 
pest 
Risk:  Is the probability of a hazard occurring  
Sett - A piece of cane stalk with 3 -5 eye -buds used as planting material.  
Brix - 1. Measure of dissolved solids in su gar liquor or syrup using a refractometer, otherwise referred to as 
refractometric dry solids. For solutions containing only sugar and water, Brix = % sugar by mass. Spindle Brix 
is determined using a  hydrometer but  is now seldom used.  
refractometer brix  - the term used when a refractometer equipped with a scale, based on the relationship 
between refractive indices at 20oC and the percentage by mass of total soluble solids of a pure aqueous sucrose 
solution, is used instead of a hydrometer to test the sol ids concentration of a sucrose containing solution. The 
sugar industry is now standardized on refractometer brix  
dissolved solids  - All solute material which is in solution, including sucrose, monosaccharides, ash and other 
organic impurities  
dry substan ce 
 1. The material remaining after drying a product to constant mass, or for a specified period. The mass of dry 
substance can also be found by deducting from the mass of the product, the mass of moisture, as determined 
in a specified manner  
2. A measure  of total solids obtained from evaporating a solution or massecuite under vacuum to dryness  
extraction  
1. Proportion of sugar taken out from cane in the extraction plant; equals mass of sugar in raw juice as a 
percentage of mass of sugar in cane  
2. The p ercentage ratio of sucrose in mixed juice to sucrose in cane. If based on pol it is referred to as Pol  
filter cake  – Also referred scum or filter mud. The residue removed from process by filtration including any 
added filter aid.  
polarization (or pol)  
1. Relative rotation of plane polarised light as a measure of sucrose concentration  
2. The apparent sucrose content of any substance expressed as a percentage by mass and determined by the 
single or direct polarisation method. The term is used as if it wer e a real substance  
3. The apparent sucrose content expressed as a mass percent measured by the optical rotation of polarized 
light passing through a sugar solution. This is accurate only for pure sucrose solutions   
iv © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 purity -1. The true purity is the sucros e content as a percent of the dry substance or dissolved solids content. 
The solids consist of sugar plus non -sucrose components such as invert, ash, and colorants. Apparent purity is 
expressed as polarization divided by refractometer Brix, multiplied by 1 00.  
2. The percentage ratio of sucrose (or pol) to the total soluble solids (or brix) in a sugar product. The following 
terms are in general use: Refractive apparent purity: The percentage ration of pol to refractometer brix. G.C. 
sucrose refractometer br ix purity: The percentage ratio of GC sucrose to refractometer brix.  
R- Reduced or parameters standardise at agreed conditions  
raw juice  - Juice obtained from the cane extraction process. Also referred to as mixed juice (from mills) or draft 
juice (from d iffusers).  
refining - Purification of sugar through chemical and physical methods generally including some or all of 
clarification, filtration, decolourization and recrystallization.  
sucrose - The pure disaccharide α -D-glucopyranosyl -β-D-fructofuranoside , known commonly as sugar.  
sugarcane - Botanically a tall grass of the genus Saccharum and agriculturally the crop produced from hybrids 
which are the progeny of a number of Saccharum species commonly referred to as cane. For determination and 
payment of sucrose in cane it is the raw material accepted at the mill for processing.  
tel qel  -Apparent quantity ext of the definition  
4 Symbols (and abbreviated terms)  
AFA - Agriculture and Food Authority  
USD - United State of America Dollar  
TREO - Tax Remission  for Export Office  
SD - Sugar Directorate  
SRI - Sugar Research Institute  
TC/TS - Cane and Sugar ratio by weight  
TCD - Tonnes of Cane crushed per Day  
RME - Reduced Mill Extraction  
ROR - Reduced Overall Recovery  
ppm - Parts per million  
CU - Capacity u tilization  
CTU- Cane Testing Unit  
FTE - Factory Time Efficiency  
ICUMSA - International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis  
ISO – International Organisation for Standardization   
KEBS - Kenya Bureau of Standards  
Kg - Kilogram   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  v 
  MT - Metric T onnes  
EIA- Environmental Impact Assessment  
NEMA – National Environmental Management Authority  
KEPHIS – Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services  
KS- Kenya Standard  
EAS – East Africa Standard  
FIFO – First In First Out  paragraph.  
5. General Requirements  
Stakeholders within the sugar value chain should undertake production, processing, distribution and trading of 
sugar in a manner that ensures high productivity and efficiency; food safety and quality; worker health, safety 
and welfare; environmental protection  and sustainability.  
Adequate measures should be taken, as appropriate throughout the value chain in accordance with relevant 
Kenya Standards to achieve the following:  
a) High productivity and efficiency by adopting industry best practices;  
b) Safety by identifying practices, control measures, and monitoring hazards associated with the product 
at each step;  
c) Quality by identifying factors that compromise sugar quality and implement measures to ensure 
conformity to product specifications;  
d) Environmental prot ection by adopting sustainable practices; and  
e) Worker health, safety and welfare by adhering to relevant legislation.  
 
5.1 Documentation and Record Keeping  
A. An organized system of record keeping should be documented and implemented for all records 
pertinent  to this code and should remain legible, readily identifiable and retrievable.  
B. The value chain actor should keep copies of the list of relevant international and national policies, laws 
and regulations where applicable.  
C. Records should be maintained for a period of at least two years or as required by law.  
D. The value chain actors should ensure that employees charged with record keeping are trained to do so 
accurately and that they are adequately supervised.  
E. Records should be clearly written, dated and signe d (including the name) by a responsible person.  
F. Recording of data showing non -conformity with standards should be followed up with a written 
corrective action to be taken.  
G. All records should be available for inspection by authorized persons.  
H. The value c hain actors should undertake at least one self -assessment per year which should be 
documented.   
vi © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 I. All the non -conformities generated from the internal audit should be documented and corrective actions 
taken.  
J. Documentation should include but not limited to t he following:  
i. Policies and manuals for all activities along the value chain including for sugar quality 
and food safety, environmental protection, and worker welfare and health;  
ii. Procedure for management of non -conforming products;  
iii. Procedure for traceabili ty, withdrawal and recall.  
iv. Records of personnel training;  
v. Records of  updated sugarcane growers ;  
vi. Records of soil and leaf -tissue analysis;  
vii. Records of prequalification of suppliers of materials, services and transport;  
viii. Records of stocked and applied fertil izer and crop protection products;  
ix. Programs and records for pests and disease incidences and control;  
x. Records of pesticide residue monitoring;  
xi. Personnel hygiene policy;  
xii. Statutory certificates and licenses [Food handlers health certificates and other relevant 
Licences, certificates and Permits];  
xiii. Records for harvested cane quality;  
xiv. Records of production, processing and distribution;  
xv. Procedures and programs for cleaning and disinfection;  
xvi. Records of heavy metals monitoring;  
xvii. Records of plant machinery and equipment  
 
5.2 Competence  
A capacity development system should be established and maintained to ensure personnel at each stage of the 
value chain are equipped, through appropriate training, with knowledge and skills that ensure best practices. 
The trainin gs should include; enterprise diversification, protection of environment, workers’ health and safe 
handling of products.  
 
5.3 Safety and Security  
Measures should be established and implemented to control access to the cane production and processing 
areas, storage and handling facilities.  
6. Primary Production/Field Operations  
Agronomic practices should comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) as recommended in approved cane 
producer manuals.  
6.1 Site Selection   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  vii 
  A. Cane should be grown in recommended agro -ecological zones complying with relevant national 
legislative requirements for industrial crop production  
B. The following should be considered when selecting land for cane production  
i. Farmers’ ability to grow, maintain, supply and market the crop  
ii. Land size  
iii. Soil suitability & fertility  
iv. Land accessibility & terrain  
v. Land ownership/lease agreement  
C. Farmer recruitment/registration should be undertaken by millers and  out -grower institutions through 
cane farming contracts .  
D. In case of forested land or land use change, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) licence from 
NEMA  should be obtained in line with EMCA 1999  
6.2 Land Preparation  
A. Sugarcane remains in the fields for many years and this requires good land preparation for higher yields. 
Land preparation  techniques (time, methods and technology) that minimize soil erosion and compaction, and 
safeguard the environment should be applied.  
B. Land preparation should involve the following key practices;  
i. Land Survey  
ii. Land clearance (e.g. bush clearing, de -stump ing, removal of debris & back -filling, use of recommended 
herbicides)  
iii. Primary cultivation (e.g. disc/mouldboard ploughing, ripping)  
iv. Secondary cultivation (e.g. Harrowing/Furrowing)  
v. Construction of in roads/drainages  
C. During land preparation, where nec essary, soil pH and fertility correction should be based on soil analysis 
reports .  
6.3 Soil Sampling, Analysis and Recommendation  
A. Soil testing should be a requirement to cane establishment to guide the grower on soil fertility status 
and fertilizer applic ation schedule.  
B. Farmers should consult extension officers from relevant/qualified/appropriate institutions on methods of 
soil sample collection and delivery to laboratories for analysis and on the interpretation & practical 
implication of the soil analysis  results.  
The recommendations from soil analysis results should inform the farmer on the nutrient regime of the field.  
6.4 Nurseries  
Nurseries should be established and managed in a manner that ensures sustainability of plant health, protection 
of the env ironment and workers’ safety.  
In particular:   
viii © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 a) Nursery A should be established by the institution responsible for sugar Research and millers  for 
primary seed quality  
b) Nursery B should be established by the institution responsible for sugar research, miller s and seed 
merchants for secondary seed quality    
c) The nursery site should have adequate water supply  
d) The nursery soils should have top soils with neutral pH of   between 6.5 – 7.5   
e) Sites excavated for nursery soils should be rehabilitated;  
f) Nursery construction and management practices should comply with the recommendations in the 
approved sugar producer manuals;  
g) Fertilizers use, type and application rates be as per sugar grower’s handbook or approved producer 
manual;  
h) Biodegradable materials are reco mmended but where n on-biodegradable materials such as polythene 
used in the nursery should be disposed of in accordance with Environmental Management and 
Coordination Act (EMCA);  
i) Planting material used should be approved in accordance with the Seed and Pla nt Varieties Act, 
Biosafety Act and other relevant legislations;  
j) Use of agrochemicals for pest and disease control should be limited to those approved for use in the 
sugar industry and in accordance with applicable legislations on chemical use.  
6.4.1 Seed Certification  
The General Seed Certification procedures should be complied with  as contained in the plant protection acts   
6.4.2 Land Requirement  
Land should be kept free from sugarcane residues and drainage from other sugarcane fields.  
6.4.3 Nursery Fie ld Standards  
A. General Requirements  
Isolation:     
Sugarcane seed production fields should be isolated from other fields with a minimum distance of 5m to avoid 
mechanical admixture with other varieties.  
B. Specific Requirements  
Table 1  
Factor  Stage of field inspection  Maximum permissible limits (%)  
  Foundation  Certified  
Off-types  I, II,III  Nil Nil  
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  ix 
  Plants affected with designated diseases  
  A Nursery  B nursery  
Ratoon stunting 
disease (RSD)  III Nil Nil 
Smut  I 0.5* 0.5* 
 II 0.2* 0.2* 
 III NIL 0.01 
Leaf scald  II 0.01*  0.05*  
 III Nil Nil 
Red rot  I, II,III  Nil Nil 
Plants affected by designated insect -pests   
Shoot borer  II & III  5 5 
Stalk borer  III 5.0+ 
Nil** 5.0* 
Nil** 
Scale insects, Mealy 
bug III 5.0 
Nil** 5.0 
Nil** 
Yellow aphids     
 Key  
*    Subject to immediate rouging of the whole clump  
** In areas where the presence of the pest has not been recorded.  
+    It gives around 0.5% -affected buds.  
  
6.4.4 Designated Diseases  
1. Smut ( Ustilago scitaminea (Sydow ) 
2. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD )( Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli  ) 
3. Leaf scald ( Xanthomonas albilineans  (Ashby)Dowso  
4. Red rot ( Glomerella tucumanensis  (Speg.) Arx& Muller)  
 
6.4.5 Designated Insect -Pests  
1. Shoot borer ( Scirpophaga excerptalis  Wlk.)   
x © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 2. Stalk borer ( Eldana saccharina  .) 
3. Scale insect (Melanaspis glomerata  ) 
4. Mealy bug. ( Sacchariphagus sacchari  Cockerell )  
5. Yellow aphids ( Sipha flava  ) 
Note:  
i. All off -types and diseased plants should be rogued out along with roots and destroyed.  
ii. Maximum permissible limits for the stripping of dry foliage s hould be 2.0 %. (there are varieties that are 
self detrashing)  
iii. The crop should not have more than 10% lodged cane.  
iv. Seed cane should not have nodal roots  
v. Moisture in seed cane should not be less than 65% on wet weight basis.  
vi. Genetic purity of seed should b e 100%.  
vii. Physical purity of seed should be 98%.  
6.4.6 Assessment of Off -types, Presence of Designated Diseases and Pests  
From a random position within a seed cane field, an inspector should walk for ten (10) meters along a row which 
translates into thirty stools, skip the next three rows and repeat the same on the fifth row, ninth row until the 
count is achieved. In each count, the inspector should be taking note of the off -types, designated diseases and 
pests.  
Minimum number of counts  
Table 2  
Area (Acres)  Minimum counts  Number of plants  
Up to 2  33 1000  
2.1 – 4.0 66 2000  
4.1 – 6.0 99 3000  
6.1 -8.0 132 4000  
8.1- 10.0 165 5000  
 
6.4.7 Heat Treatment  /Aerated Steam therapy(AST)  
Seed cane to should establish  Nursery  A which should be hot water treated at 500 C for 2 hours; Nursery B 
should be established from the progeny of  Nursery  A.  
6.5  Cane Establishment   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  xi 
  6.5.1 Seed Cane Preparation  
a) Certified seed cane of recommended varieties for a specific zone should be used.  
b) The seed cane should be plant crop or first ratoon obtained from nursery 'B', true to type, free from 
pests and diseases.  
c) Seed cane average age depending on variety should be 7 - 9 months for coastal areas and  9 -12 months 
for upland areas preferably 1.5 m in height.  
d) Cutting knives should be st erilized regularly using appropriate disinfectants e.g. Dettol, Jik, Lysol to 
minimize the risk of spreading diseases such as smut, ratoon stunting disease (RSD) and pineapple 
disease.  
e) Seed cane should be harvested with trash, loaded, transported and off l oaded with care to avoid 
damage to the eye -buds.  
f) Transport equipment for seed cane from nurseries to the field should be thoroughly cleaned before use 
in order to minimize spread of diseases.  
g) Prepared seed cane should be planted immediately.  
6.5.2 Planting   
6.5.2.1  Setts  
a) Planting should be done when there is adequate soil moisture supply from rain or irrigation.  
b) Setts should be treated with appropriate fungicides and/or insecticides to control major diseases and 
pests e.g. termites.  
c) 3-5 eye budded setts sh ould be planted at a seed rate of 6 -8 T/Ha (2.4 -3.2 T/Acre) depending on the 
variety and inter row spacing.  
d) Planting fertilizers (Phosphatic, Potassic and manures e.g. filter cake) based on site -specific 
recommendations should be applied.  
e) Setts should be placed end -to-end or slightly overlapped depending on soil moisture level and quality 
of the seed cane.  
f) Furrows should be covered properly with soil.  
6.5.2.2  Single -eye bud plantlets  
a) Healthy freshly harvested cane stalks of 9 -11 months are to be selected.  
b) Bud chips should be excised using a machete manually or mechanically by a bud chipping machine to 
attain a bud size of 2.54cm×2.54cm  
c) The buds will be treated with organic or chemical disinfectants to avoid pest and disease infestation. 
Treated buds will be  placed in a plastic bag and then immersed in a prepared solution of either 20ml 
malathion or 5g carbendazim for 10 -15minutes.  
d) Treated bud chips will be dried for 2 -3 hours under shade before planting in trays filled with soil and 
farm yard manure mixtures  or filter press mud or planted in mini -plots.  
e) Bud chips will be planted in an upright position. 2 -3 budded sugarcane setts will be used for planting.   
xii © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 f) For mini plots, a thin soil layer will be applied on top. Both planting methods will be tightly covered  with 
polythene sheets and kept for 7 -8 days in the same position to protect f rom extreme weather conditions.  
g) After 7 days the polythene sheet cover will be removed. The trays with sprouted buds will be aligned 
side by side in beds on the ground to facilit ate watering and other nursery management practices.  
h) Fertilizer will be applied at the rate of 1g urea 46% per bud or foliar feed spraying between 15 and 25 
days after planting.  
i) Healthy seedlings at the age of 45 -60days will be transplanted in well prepare d fields. An inter -row 
spacing of 1.2 M and plant to plant spacing of 0.6M will be adopted.  
j) The seedlings will be deprived of moisture one day before transplanting. This will loosen the soil in 
cones and help in easy lifting of seedlings for transplanting.  
k) Seedlings will be planted in the moistened soil with a gentle thrust.  
6.5.3 Germination Assessment and Gap Filling  
a. Germination count should be carried out after 45 days from the date of planting.  
b. Wide gaps of more than 60 cm (2ft) should be filled with healthy seed cane setts/plantlets  of the same 
variety.  
6.6 Crop Protection  
6.6.1 Weed Control  
Weed control may entail cultural, manual, mechanical and chemical methods and/or integrated weed 
management operations.  
I. Manual weed control  
Plant crops should  be weeded timely using hand hoes (jembes). This may be done up to 4 to 6 times depending 
on the field weed condition & cane growth stage.  
II. Chemical weed control  
Chemical weed control involves the use of different pre -emergence and post emergence herbic ides. Specific 
combinations (cock - tails) of chemicals for each agro -ecological zone may be obtained from the extension 
officer. In ratoon cane, a pre -emergence herbicide treatment is applied after inter -row cultivation. Herbicides 
can be applied manually  through use of knapsacks or mechanically through use of boom sprayers. Tractor 
mounted Boom sprayers can be utilized on large -scale farms.  
III. Mechanical weed control  
This is most suited for ratoon crops but can also be conducted in plant cane at 4 – 6 months with utmost care 
to minimize crop damage. Inter -row cultivation may be done by oxen -drawn plough or tractor mounted ridger or 
tines. The operations include:  
1). Animal draft: Use of animal -drawn mouldboard ploughs.  
 • 3 passes per row are recommende d  
• Suitable for small plots  
• Can be used even in wet moisture regime   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  xiii 
  • Has limited soil penetration.  
2) Ripping / Sub soiling  
• To break the hard pan to allow easier root penetration, water infiltration and aeration.  
 • Aims at 45 to 60 cm depth  
• Cut old roots to allow development of new roots  
 3) Disc bedding/ Ridging and tine cultivation  
 • Use of light machines and implements on high floatation tyres to avoid soil compaction  
• Appropriate after fertilizer application  
• Better penetration achiev ed up to a depth of 18cm  
 4) Trash shredding  
 a. Use manual labour  to spread the trash uniformly on the field surface  
 b. Use tractor drawn Shredder to cut trash into smaller pieces to facilitate the subsequent operations and 
decomposition.  
Cultural weed control  
Good seedbed preparation, timely planting, use of cover crops and trash mulching are recommended.  
Integrated weed management  
A combination of manual, chemical, mechanical and cultural methods is more efficient and cost effective. This 
is highly recommended.  
The critical weed control period should be within 3 months and 6 months of planting in the coast and west Kenya 
sugar belt, respectively.  
6.6.2 Pest Management  
a) Sugarcane growers should regularly visit their farms to identify pest attack and  report to extension officers 
in their areas.  
b) Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies should be used to keep pest levels below economically 
damaging thresholds using the most appropriate combination of biological (use of natural enemies), cultural, 
mechanical/physical, and chemical (plant protection products) methods.  
6.6.3 Diseases Management  
a) Sugarcane growers should regularly visit their farms to identify diseases and report to extension officers in 
their areas.  
b) An integrated approach involv ing a combination of chemical, cultural, hot water treatment as well as 
rogueing should be employed in the management of sugarcane diseases.  
6.7 Crop Protection Products   
xiv © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 a) The grower should use crop protection products that are approved for use in sugar c rops and applied in a 
manner that protects the worker and the environment in accordance with approved manuals and relevant 
legislations in Annex B;  
b) The choice of crop protection products, their storage and application, should be appropriate and in 
accor dance to the instructions on the material safety data sheet /label;  
c) All products used should be registered by the Pest Control Products Board;  
d) Where its technically feasible, recognized IPM techniques should be applied;  
e) An up to date and complete  list of all the crop protection products that are used and/or stored on the farm 
should be maintained;  
f) All applications of crop protection products should be recorded, including: field identification (number or 
code, location), application date, produc t trade name (brand), name of the operator/supervisor, application 
machinery (e.g. knapsack) and name of pest or diseases controlled;  
g) Application and measuring equipment should be well maintained and where necessary calibrated regularly 
to ensure accura cy of application rates;  
h) All crop protection products should be transported safely to minimize danger to people, food products and 
the environment;  
i) When an original package is broken or damaged, and the product is transferred to another package, the 
new package should contain key information of the original label;  
j) Storage facilities should be appropriately designed with safety features, and a product inventory and 
manufacturer’s safety information should be maintained;  
k) Empty containers of crop p rotection products should not be re -used in any form or manner. Such containers 
should be safely stored and later disposed in accordance with material safety data sheet;  
l) Surplus application mixes and wash downs should be disposed of safely;  
m) Obsolete  crop protection products should be labelled  and disposed in accordance to material safety data 
sheet.  
6.8 Plant Nutrition  
a) Farmers should undertake routine soil analysis to determine nutrient levels in the soil.  
b) Fertilizers should be applied based on nutrient requirements of the crop.  
c) Fertilizer used should not contain potentially harmful substances and should comply with relevant Kenya 
Standards.  
d) Fertilizer application equipment and machinery should be kept in good condition, calibrated and maintained 
in a manner that will ensure accurate delivery rate.  
e) Fertilizers should be stored in a defined area that gives protection for stock with minimum risk to employees 
and environment.  
f) Use of organic manure for maintenance and improvement of so il fertility should be encouraged. It should 
be composted and stored in a designated area to prevent the risk of contamination of the environment.  
g) Records of fertilizer stocks, application indicating location, date of application, type and quantity of fertilizer 
applied should be maintained.   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  xv 
  paragraph.  
6.9 Enterprise Diversification  
I. Growers should diversify into other recommended farm -based enterprises for additional revenue 
streams and food and nutritional security.  
II. County governments should take lead in farm based enterprise diversification  
6.10 Extension services  
Extension services should be provided by competent and qualified personnel, mobile and web -based 
applications such as Miwa bora mobile application.  
 
  
xvi © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Annex  A 
(informative)  
Relevant legislatio ns 
The following is a list of legislations that apply to the sugar industry:  
I. The Constitution of Kenya, 2010  
II. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority Act (AFFA) 2013 (Revised , 2016).  
III. The Crops Act, 2013.  
IV. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Orga nization Act, 2013.  
V. The Employment Act, Cap. 226.  
VI. The Environmental Management and Coordination Act, 1999.  
VII. Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007  
VIII. Work Injury Benefits Act, 2007.  
IX. The Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act, Cap. 254.  
X. The Public Health Act, Cap. 242.  
XI. The Irrigation Act, Cap. 347.  
XII. The Lakes and Rivers Act, Cap. 409.  
XIII. The National Hospital Insurance Fund Act, Cap. 255.  
XIV. The National Social Security Fund Act, Cap. 258.  
XV. The Physical Planning Act, 1996.  
XVI. The Regulation of Wages and Conditions o f Employment Act, (ROWA)  Cap. 229.  
XVII.  The Standards Act, Cap. 496.  
XVIII.  The Trade Disputes Act, Cap. 234.  
XIX. The Children’s Act, 2001.  
XX. The Sexual Offences Act,  
XXI. The Trade Union Act, Cap. 233.  
XXII.  The Water Act, Cap. 372.  
XXIII.  Seeds and Plant Varieties Act, Cap. 326.  
XXIV.  The Pes t Control Products Act, Cap. 346.  
XXV.  The Plant Protection Act  
XXVI.  Weights and Measures Act, Cap 513  
XXVII.  Land Act No. 6 of 2012   
© KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  xvii 
  XXVIII.  The Fertilizers and Animal Foodstuffs Act, Cap 345  
XXIX.  Factories and Other Places of Works Act, Cap 514  
XXX.  Co-operative Societies  Act Cap 490  
XXXI.  The Crops (Sugar) (General) Regulations, 2020  
XXXII.  The Crops (Import, Export and By -products) Regulations, 2020  
XXXIII.  The Labour Institutions Act No. 12 of 2007  
XXXIV.  The Labor Relations Act No. 14 of 2007  
XXXV.  Retirement Benefit Act No.3 1997  
. 
. 
Annex A  
Product diversification  
Millers should diversify their production to include the following:  
a) Brown/mill white sugar  
b) Refined white sugar  
c) Sugar cane jaggery  
d) Raw cane sugar  
e) Fortified sugar  
f) Icing sugar  
g) Molasses  
h) Bagasse  
i) Carbonized briquettes for household  
j) Non-carbonized briquettes  for industrial  
k) Ethanol  
l) Co-generation  
m) Filter mud  
n) Fly ash  
o) Fibre boards  
p) Pulp and paper   
xviii © KEBS 2022  – All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] ISO ##### -#, General title — Part #: Title of part  
[2] ISO ##### -##:20##, General title — Part ##: Title of part  
A Bibliography , if present, shall appear after the last annex.  
The bibliography may include  
— documents that are not publicly available,  
— documents which are only cited in an informative manner, and  
— documents whi ch have merely served as bibliographic or background material in the preparation of the 
document.  
For online referenced documents, information sufficient to identify and locate the source shall be provided. 
Preferably, the primary source of the referenced document should be cited, in order to ensure traceability. 
Furthermore, the reference should, as far as possible, remain valid for the expected life of the document. The 
reference shall include the method of access to the referenced document and the full n etwork address .