Traditional crop varieties and food security in Tharaka district (ASAL) in Kenya: a focus on millet and sorghum

Abstract

The objectives or the study were to identify the strategies used by farmers to maintain a rind indigenous varieties of millet and sorghum on their farms, what hinders their maintenance and the reasons why farmers want or do not want to maintain them on their farms. Quantitative data was assembled from' a multistage cluster selected sample or 128 respondents, while qualitative data were drawn from Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Key informants. Secondary data was obtained from review of relevant books, journals, articles and policy documents. The study findings show that food security, marketability, high yields, pest resistance, drought tolerance and other uses (brewing) are key considerations of sorghum and millet to farmers and greatly influence the varieties grown. The study also established that households that are food secure have 2 bags of millet and sorghum each in storage for household rood security far a family size of 8-1 a people. Millet and sorghum arc the two major crops in Maragwa that ensure household food security due to their adaptability to the harsh climate and the multipurpose use of the varieties grown. The study concluded that improvement of the infrastructure, storage and transportation system would greatly ensure the production of the traditional food crops. Based on these findings the stuciy recommended that there is need to develop a better marketing system and a more efficient input purchase delivery policy, higher producer prices, and better credit opportunities for farmers producing traditional crops.