Effect of land-use practices on household food security: A case study of Murang’a county Kenya

Peter Muturi Gichuhi; Kenneth Nyang’ena; Lilian Machariah

doi:10.51867/ajernet.7.3.63

Authors

Peter Muturi Gichuhi National Defence University, Kenya
Kenneth Nyang’ena Laikipia University, Kenya
Lilian Machariah National Defence University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3423-1395

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.3.63

Keywords:

Agroforestry, Climate Variability, Food Security, Land Fragmentation, Sustainable Land Use

Abstract

Food security is still one of the most important development problems that can be faced in the world because of population growth, climate change and pressure on natural resources. Murang'a County is still food insecure in households despite its high agricultural potential. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of sustainable land use on the food security of households in Murang'a County, Kenya. In particular, it examined land-use trends and practices, the linkage between land use and household food security and the problems and potential of sustainable land use. In the study, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and the Innovation Diffusion Theory were used to guide the study and the descriptive research design was used. The 322 farming households were selected using a multistage sampling technique for structured questionnaires and 25 key informants were interviewed to give qualitative information. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for quantitative data analysis and thematic analysis was used for qualitative data analysis. The results showed that land fragmentation, climate variability, high input costs and lack of extension services were significant constraints on agricultural production and food security of the households. Farmers had taken some steps toward being more sustainable, including soil conservation, agroforestry and diversified cropping systems, but these primarily affected environmental sustainability and dietary diversity and not food security. The study recommends that the implementation of strengthened land-use planning, climate-smart agriculture, agricultural extension services, farmer cooperatives and digital land governance is vital to boost food security of the households in Murang'a County.

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