| dc.description.abstract | This research is about the relationship between food security levels and
agricultural development. It examines the existing food policies, the extent
to which household attitudes and social behaviour, savings and investments on
inputs for agricultural development.
Stepwise regression analysis is used to derive models or equations for
predictive purposes. On testing the hypotheses set for the study, it is
established that there exists a significant correlation between household food
security levels and factors of production; household savings, household labour
and household levels of farm technology. It is also ascertained that variations
in household's food security levels are reflected in agricultural diversification,
and the levels of farm technology at each household. Graphs were generated
to portray the variations of independent variables with dependent. This
research was limited to a sub-location level because of the financial
limitations. However, this facilitated greater accuracy in data collection and
analysis. It has also made it possible to compare findings at micro-level with
those at micro-level. For instance, this research has established that there is
about 21.497% food deficit in the study area, whereas the Kisii District
Development plan indicates that the region is self-sufficient in food
production.
It is concluded that for general agricultural development, food security should
be a major policy issue. This is because though Kisii district is a high
potential agricultural region, it depicts pockets of food insecurity, which
aggregates into a slow pace of agricultural development.
Other researchers may further explore to find out why those households
recording low levels of food security own big tracts of arable land that remain
uncultivated. It will also be worthwhile to investigate through a scientific
inquiry why maize yields per bag also continue to decline since 1988/89.
Summarily, a policy framework aimed at improving food security is a sure way
of increasing agricultural labour productivity and the pace of agricultural
growth. And incentives towards agricultural development remain basically the
alleviation of hunger and malnutrition. Food insecurity is a major problem
that some farmers in high potential areas face in agricultural development.
This proviso justify the need to review the existing agricultural development
policies for the referred zone. | en |
