The role of agrobased firms in urban development. A case of Sony sugar factory at Awendo town

Abstract

The concern of this study has been an examination of the changes that have occured in Awendo town as a result of the establishment of SONY sugar industry in the region with its manufacturing plant at the town.In a sense it has delved into the question of the extent to which an agro-based industry can contribute to the development of an urban system.

The analyses thereof have presented the level of development so far attained in this town and the magnitude of this development ascribable to the industry. The magnitude has been shown to be quite substantial. It had been presumed that much of the town's development has been as a result of the establishment of the industry and this has been shown to be the case by the analysis. The development itself consists in the establishment of new urban physico-economic and physico- social structures; expansion in the gainful economic opportunities in the form of employments and income; and improvement on some of the facilities that were established earlier. It has however, been accompanied by undesirable results in the form of uncontrolled development in terms of urban arrangement and quality of the structures; deficiencies in a number of provisions, and a main limitation to the town's long term expansion.

These have been shown to have implications on the physical, economic, social and administrative aspects of the town which has called for a planning view.

On the basis of strength of these implications the study has presented some recommendations which upon their implementation the functioning of the town will greatly be improved. It has been suggested that due to the greater need for planning, implementation and development control arising out of the recent changes in the region, and more specifically the town, the government should consider the formation of an urban authority to relieve the South Nyanza County Council for a closer and hence a more effective urban management. It has been further .sugested that because of the sugar plantations which enclave the town, which limits its long term expansion and tend to 'cut it off' from the surrounding rural population, development efforts should not be concentrated just within Awendo but should leap over to the other centres within the sugar-belt which are 'more' close to the rural people and can serve as Avendo's satellites. This would also check any overgrowth tendency in the town that might threaten the sugar plantations. It has also been suggested all that need be done to solve the problem of deficiencies identified in various aspects of the town.