Perceived impact of land use changes and livelihood diversification strategies of communities in the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya

Abstract

The changing environment and levels of resource endowment in the Lake Victoria Basin have necessitated increased human activities as a survival technique, in an attempt to reduce poverty levels and ensure food security at the household level. This study examined the dynamics in human activities of the local communities of the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya. Participatory Research techniques were used to gather information from the respondents in the community on selected variables. It is apparent that the major constraints that have encouraged changes in the land use patterns and livelihood diversification were low education, poor agricultural technology and knowledge, environmental, economic, cultural and social factors. There were constraints such as decreased food crop yields [maize, beans, sweet potatoes] and low production levels, decreased food crop variety and diversity, reduced food and nutrient diversity, unsustainable changes in food consumption patterns, reduced sources of water and decreased water volume. There is a strong link between the traditional systems in natural resource management, besides re-afforestation, education on wetland use and management.