| dc.description.abstract | The study examined how improved farm technologies affected household food security in two rural districts in Kenya (Busia and Vihiga). The study further explored the gender related constraints that affected household food provisioning mechanisms and how this impacted on the nutritional status of children (between 6 and 60 months) and women in reproductive age (15-49 years) .The data was collected through a socio-economic survey involving a pre-tested structured questionnaire which was administered to 217 and 282 households in Busia and Vihiga respectively. Additionally, 119 mothers and their children were examined for nutritional status using anthropometries and Body Mass Index (BMI) .The investigation involved the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data that was analyzed using various methodological approaches including descriptive statistics, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Simple Regression Analysis.
The most important fertilizer was Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) used by 49 % of households and combination of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) and urea, used by 24 %. The application rate was however below recommended rates (96kg and 37kg per hectare for Vihiga and Busia districts respectively); the same applied to the application rate for farm yard manure. Expenditure on fertilizers not only had a significant effect on maize yield but accounted for 12% of the variation in income from maize sales (Adjusted R2 = 0.121). Likewise, expenditure on seeds had a significant effect on maize yield accounting for 17% of yield variation (Adjusted R2 = 0.165).
There was widespread use of ox-drawn ploughs for land preparation in Busia (52%) as compared to Vihiga (2%) attributed to variation in farm sizes (1.3ha and 0.6ha) for Busia and Vihiga respectively). Although the households that prepared their seedbed using ox ploughs realized higher yields (Busia), this did not reach a statistical significance. There was a minimal use of crop protection technologies both in the fields and after harvest contributing to 25 % loss of food crops and significant loss of income for the households,
When the effect of education level of household head and number of contacts with extension officers on maize yield was analyzed, the results showed a significant effect on maize yield
(p :S.05). Likewise, household headship was found to significantly affect the nutritional status of children (p:S.05) but not women (p2:.05). There was a significant difference in nutrition status of children in de jure and de facto female headed households and de facto female headed and male headed households with children in de facto female headed households being better nourished.
The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that six variables; age of household head (16.6%), number of children (15%), expenditure on seeds (8.6%), expenditure on fertilizers (7%), quantity of fertilizers (6.3%) and expenditure on tools (5.6%), all totalling 59.6% accounted for the variation in maize yield and therefore household food security.
The food security situation in Vihiga district was relatively better due to a higher production per hectare of maize (503 kg) compared to 420 kg per hectare in Busia, Likewise, annual income from agriculture was Ksh.12, 045 in Vihiga compared to Ksh.9,637 in Busia. This variation was attributed to intensive use of farm inputs, farm diversification including the cultivation of horticultural crops and dairy farming in Vihiga than in Busia. The results also revealed that the number of stunted children was higher in Busia (37%) than in Vihiga (25 %).
The study concluded that the use of farm technologies, particularly hybrid seeds and fertilizers was low among smallholders and contributed to the low agricultural productivity that failed to meet the food security needs of the population in the two districts. In addition, the female¬headed households had the potential of increasing production just like mainstream households, if they were supported through capacity building and access to financial and physical capital
The study underscores the importance of promoting intensive use of improved technologies by smallholders through efficient extension service and more friendly credit system as a means of achieving household food security. Improvement of women's access to productive resources is also recommended to ensure a more sustained food production. | en |
