Influence of maize management practises on food security among farmers in Moibensub-county, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Abstract

Maize is the main staple food for the inhabitants of Moiben sub County as well as other parts of Country. However, its production is facing some challenges that have led to decline in yield. Improving maize production is considered one of the most important strategies of solving the problems of food insecurity in the countries where rapid population increase is a major challenge especially in Sub-Sahara Africa, this therefore, can be achieved by improving management practices of maize production. It‘s the main source of employment and income for the poor rural people. Maize accounts for 30−50% of low-income household expenditures in Eastern and Southern Africa and when the price of this commodity is increased, it‘s the poor who suffer most. In addition, the grains are rich in vitamins A, C and E, carbohydrates, essential minerals, and contain 9% protein, they also rich in dietary fiber and calories which are a good source of energy. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of maize management practices on food security among farmers in Moiben sub-county. The objectives of the study included; to establish the role of planning of planting of maize on food security in Moiben sub-county, to determine how growth control mechanisms influence food security, to establish the impact of maize storage on food security in Moiben sub-county and to establish effects of maize marketing and marketing strategies on food security in Moiben sub-county.The total population of Moiben sub-county is 138,409 people with 17,299 households. Since we are interested with household families that grow maize for commercial or for subsistence, 368 households were chosen through stratified sampling.Primary data was collected through, questionnaires, interviews, observations, and focus group discussions, secondary data was collected through review of articles, journals, internet search and text books. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics with an aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software and Microsoft excel. The findings of this study guided the researcher in recommending appropriate strategies that policy makers can use to assist the maize producers in their efforts to tackle maize production challenges in relation to food security.Planning of planting of maize has an influence on the total yield of maize.Ploughing in time ,acquisition of inputs in time enable the farmer to plant on time. Timely weeding is essential to ensure that the crop does not compete with weeds for resources. Top dressing is important because it increases the vegetative growth of the crop hence guarantee high yield. Storage of the maize grain bridges the gap between surplus at harvest time and scarcity during off season. The price of maize grain is affected by middlemen who exploit the farmers, competition from other crops e.g. wheat and millet and imported maize. This study recommends that farmers be sensitized on importance of soil testing, the farmers should form co-operative societies to assist them market their produce and buy inputs in bulk in order to benefit from collective bargaining power