What are your 3 of your favourite things to eat? How many contain sugar?

Globally, we love it! 160 million tonnes of sugar are produced every year

More than 123 countries produce sugar worldwide 80% of the world’s sugar comes from sugar cane. Sugar cane is predominantly grown in tropical and subtropical regions Sugar cane is grown by millions of small scale farmers. The other 20% comes from sugar beet. Sugar beet is grown in temperate countries, like countries in Europe.

Sugar is one of the most valuable agricultural commodities. In 2011 the global export trade was worth $47bn: $33.5bn from developing countries $12.2bn from developed countries

Africa accounts for 6% of world sugar production, but sugar is produced in more than 40 African countries. What challenges might small scale sugar cane farmers face? Cultivation is labour intensive Most value is added through processing and marketing, which mainly takes place in developed countries World sugar prices are highly volatile The global market is dominated by a few multinationals They are reliant of money from only one harvest a year At risks of climate shocks

In Uganda the sugar sector employs around 70,000 people. Although commercial sugarcane growing contributes to increased income, this often doesn’t translate to increased food security. Sugarcane growing families typically reduce the variety of crops they grow, as more land is given over to growing sugarcane.

Kamuli district, Eastern Uganda Much of the land in Kamuli is occupied by sugarcane It takes 18 months for sugarcane to mature, ready to harvest Families receive a lump sum for the crop, around £125, which they then have to make last till the next harvest The ‘attractions’ of sugarcane cash, mean that many youths drop out of school to be cane cutters Primary school completion is the worst in the country coupled with food insecurity

Read what it is like for Faridah, James and their children…

What do you think about Faridah and her families situation?

Send a Cow is launching Project Kamuli to improve food, environmental and income security of small holder farmers in the district. Send a Cow’s proven programmes of practical training and support will ensure households are swiftly able to grow a wide variety of vitamin-rich vegetables, and will enable them to break their dependency on sugarcane. Throughout May your school could get involved in Send a Cow’s Sweet Swap. By swapping sugary treats for healthier options and raising money you can help farmers swap poverty for hope.

Your school can take part by committing to give up sugar for a day or a week this May. Your school could: Get your canteen involved and go sugar-free for a day Hold a sugar-free inter-house bake-off competition Get cooking to discover new sugar-free recipes Whatever your school is able to do, swapping to healthy alternatives will help farmers make a healthy living from their land.