Improving Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) yields in Sub-Sahara Africa through the use of existing technologies: Sugarcane agronomy

Sugarcane is an important commercial crop for rural farmers in sub-Sahara Africa. To increase its productivity, farmers need to adopt better agronomic practices at all cane production stages. Proper and timely monitoring of pests and diseases must be done for early detection and control. This work therefore highlights key practices aimed at improving sugarcane production in Sub-Sahara Africa. For sustainable management of pests and diseases, farmers should adopt the use of resistant varieties such as D8484 and KEN 83-737 and environmentally friendly practices such as crop rotation, intercropping and use of less toxic pesticides that enable proliferation of natural enemies. A part from competition with sugarcane for key growth requirements such as light, space, nutrients, and water, weeds act as alternate hosts for major sugarcane pests and diseases hence timely and proper control should be put in place. Healthy sugarcane plants resist better the impacts of pests and diseases and must be maintained through a balanced application of adequate fertilizers and water during growth periods. Storage of harvested canes results in yield reduction. Therefore, harvesting of sugarcane should be done when millers are ready to pick the canes.