Influence of land use patterns on food security in Narok East sub-county, Narok county, Kenya

Abstract

Global food security is likely to remain a problem worldwide for many years if the world cannot formulate methods to control the situation. Crop yields have dwindled in many areas due to declining investments in research and infrastructure as well as increasing water scarcity which are preconditions for global food security. By the year 2016, an estimated 120,000 people in rural areas and 30,000 in urban centers of Narok County were food insecure. This has attributed to a mismatch in food availability, access and utilization. The purpose of this study was to establish Influence of Land Use Patterns on Food Security in Narok East sub-County, Narok County, Kenya which like other counties in the ASAL areas experience cases of food insecurity. The study adopted human capability approach. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The target population comprised of 25078 households distributed proportionally in the 4 wards and are involved in different farming activities. 378 household heads were determined using the sample size determination formula by Krejcie and Morgan (1970) from the target population which became the sample. Furthermore, 1 sub-County Agricultural Extension officer and 4 ward crop officers were used in the study. The number of respondents for the study became 383 in total. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire and an interview guide. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages and inferential statistics of correlation, ANOVA and regression analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 26 and the Excel software were used as a data analysis tools for the study. The results was presented using frequencies, percentages, tables and charts. The relationship between the variables was tested at a significant level of 5%. Results show that there is a very strong positive and significant correlation between land use patterns and food security (r =.752** and a p-value of 0.000). This implies that the relationship between the variables is very significant hence land use patterns have a strong influence on food security in Narok East sub-County. The study concludes that the null hypothesis that there is no relationship between land use patterns and food security was rejected because the ANOVA model indicated a very significant and statistical relationship between the two variables. The study will beneficial to the farmers in the ASAL areas who have consistently experienced food security issues. The study will also benefit the National Government, County Governments and other Non Governmental Organizations in the area of food security as it will provide appropriate data that was used for policy making processes.