Role Of Biofortified Crops In Mitigating Food Security In The Rural Households In Murang’a County: A Case Of Women Farmers Of Dry Land Arrowroots

Abstract

The purpose of this inquiry is to investigate the role of biofortified dry land arrowroots in mitigating food security among rural women farmers’ households in Muranga County. The study on biofortified dry land arrowroots as a strategic biofortified crop to fight hunger. Muranga County is considered a hardship county because of the vast pockets of dry arid and lands that experience rain shortage and prolonged drought. The unreliable rainfall implies that farmers experience unstable crop production. The study seeks to establish biofortified dry arrowroots nutrition value, the economic value of dry land arrowroots and challenges experienced by women farmers in Muranga County. The Study is founded on the theory of innovation and feminist theory that best explains change and transformation in society. The study methodology included the use of semi-structured questionnaires, Focus group discussions and interviewing key informants. The study sampled 120 respondents. The qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed and a report prepared. The study achieved 83% response rate. The Study findings indicate that biofortified dry land arrowroots crops are beneficial in assisting rural households gain food security because the crop is fast maturing and uses little rainfall. The women farmers benefited from selling surplus crops. Lastly women farmers experience myriad challenges in growing dry land arrowroots from difficulty in obtaining seedlings and accessing finances to support the crop production. Conclusion of the study is that dry land arrowroots have significant effect on food security among women farmers in Muranga County. The findings however cannot be generalized in Kenya. The study recommends that the government needs to adopt biofortified dry land arrowroots farming production to address food insecurity in arid and semi-arid lands. The study further recommends studies in other Counties on dry land arrowroots to allow generalization.