A study of the linkage between land use management and household food security in Rongo District Kenya

Abstract

This is a study of the linkages of land use management and sustainable household food security in Rongo District, seeking to examine the present state and the linkages of land use management and household food security. The district is having a problem of inappropriate land use management practices and household food insecurity. Hence, this study was to provide insights into sustainable solutions geared towards improving land use management and household food security situation. It is to benefit farmers, researchers, development practitioners, academicians, planners and other stakeholders. The research was a cross-sectional survey that used mixed mode approach. A population of 3000 farm households residing in all the four divisions in Rongo District, Kenya was represented. The study sample size was 300 farm households. Using a farm household as a unit of analysis, the survey took place in 30 randomly selected cluster groups, each represented by 10 farm households, as representative probability sample from the larger population. Secondary Data collection included perusal of documents (document analysis). Primary Data collection involved key informant face-to-face in-depth FGDs interviews with 30 cluster FGDs, participant observations and field site visits. The field data collection was undertaken for a period of one month starting from June 30th to July 30th, 2009. Data was ana lysed and tested using Pearson's Chi-square test of independence with decision-making criteria at the critical alpha of 0.05 significance level. The study report was compiled in Microsoft Word and Tables formatted in Excel and presented in tables and percentages. The present state of land use management, the researcher found out that for land tenure systems: there were 30% of the residents who lacked access to land resources and while 70% had access to and control over land resources and benefits. For the land use planning at the farm level, 73.3% of the farm holding lacked land use plans and only 26.7% had developed land use plans for agricultural development. Study revealed that on land use 73.3% of the farm households in the district practiced mixed farming involving the growing of food crops aod rearing of livestock and the remaining 26.7% concentrated on food crop growing alone as their main land use practice. Land reform for accounted for by 63.3% of the farm household survey respondents who believed both land tenure and land use changes were influenced by land reforms, while 16.7% believed it influenced land use changes only as another 20% of the residents observed land tenure changes as being caused by land reforms taking place. The study found out that agricultural policy determined the relationship between the household food security and land use management and the absence of national land policy compromised land use management practices. The researcher concluded that for land use management to be effective and efficient to contribute to improving household food security, there is the need for an integrated land use approach in land use-management. The present approach of disjointed and uncoordinated land use practices cannot be expected to provide the desired outcome of sustainable household food security. Land use management in the district should be decentralized and new legislation that would reflect current thinking and approach to more humane and environmental friendly approach of sustainable development need to be embraced and instituted in the management of land resources.