Food Security and Agricultural Development:a Case Study of Bogetaorio Ii Sub-location, Kisii District, Kenya

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.