Analysis of the Supply and Demand Side Determinants of Maize Food Security in Kenya
Abstract
This research paper examines maize food security in Kenya by analyzing the supply and
demand-side factors. The objectives of the study include: scrutinizing the prevailing trends of
maize food security; establishing the determinants of maize food security; and providing policy
implications and recommendations. Secondary time series data for the period 1970-2019
collected from the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture organization was used to achieve
these objectives. The methodology used conceptualizes food security as being determined by
factors which can be categorized either as supply or demand sided, and are informed by the
dimensions of food security - availability, access, and stability. The ordinary least squares
approach was applied to evaluate the impact of these factors. Results indicated that maize
production and gross national per capita income were significant and positively related to maize
food security. The study recommends that the government should enhance access to improved
seeds and also increase the land area equipped with irrigation infrastructure, as measures to boost
maize production. Likewise, the government should adopt the gross national income per capita
as an alternative indicator or trigger for initiating maize subsidy programs to increase maize food
security
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- School of Economics [237]
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