Research ArticleOpen Access

Factors Contributing to Low Productivity and Food Insecurity in Bungoma County, Kenya

Volume 1 - Issue 7

Mary Stella Wabwoba*

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- Centre for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenya
*Corresponding author: Mary Stella Wabwoba, Centre for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kakamega, Kenya

Received: November 14, 2017; Published: December 01, 2017

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2017.01.000556

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Abstract

Food insecurity within households is a risk to people’s livelihoods. If not addressed in good time it could results into a disaster that will require foreign intervention for that affected community. Households in Bungoma county of Kenya were noted to be vulnerable to food insecurity due to low productivity and this state threatened peoples livelihoods. The objective of this study was to examine the physical, economic, environmental and social factors that led to low food production in Bungoma County, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey design was used in the study and a cluster (multi-stage random) sample size of 384 households was selected. Tools used for data collection were questionnaires, interview guides, focus group discussions and observation checklists. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that land size was small; the road network was poor and disorganized market systems. The cost of farm inputs was high as well as high poverty levels.

Climatic variability affected crops and animal production. Social support, traditional beliefs and culture which discriminated against women were key risk factors that contributed to low farm production, making households vulnerable to food insecurity. Based on the findings, the study concluded that low farm productions were attributed to physical (Poor road networks and small land size), economic (poverty and high cost of farm inputs), environmental (climate variability and deforestation) and Social (cultural belief and negative attitude) factors. The study recommended that costs of farm inputs should be subsidized, improve road network system and sensitize people on positive cultural practices and attitude change to allow both gender participation on issues of food security.

Key words: Farm productivity; Household food insecurity; Bungoma County