Life of poverty:
The income per capita for the area is KSHs 50 per person per day (below the UN level of US $ 1/d). 60 % of the population lives below poverty line. Adult dependency is very high depicting a high level of unemployment in the area.

Cash crop versus food crops - The major cash crop in the area is sugar cane. With the introduction of the Mumias Sugar Company most of the inhabitants of the project area turned their farms into small plantations of sugar cane with the average size of plot holdings of 4 acres. The sugar cane is harvested within a period of 18-24 months.

Although cash income for the residents improved slightly, there are other factors that inhibit improved standard of living for the community. This type of farming has left many families with very small pieces of land that are used for food crops resulting into increased malnutrition in the area especially among children - hence increased family expenditure on health. More>>>

Sugarcane farming is a major economic activity in Marama