Factors that influence food security in rural households of mount Elgon sub county, Kenya.

Abstract

The issue of food security has been of fundamental importance in Kenya. As a basic need, food has been a major discussion issue in many round tables held by food organizations like FAO,WFP and governments around the world. The purpose of this study was to find out how Politics, innovation, Economics, social cultural factors influence food security of households in Mount Elgon Sub county. The site of the study was Mount Elgon , Bungoma County. The study objectives were: to examine the influence of political factors on household food security, to establish the influence of economic factors on household food security, to determine the influence of innovation on household food security, to identify the influence of social cultural factors on household food security. This study was conducted using the survey research design. Data was collected from 151 households using Yamane Taro’s(1967) formula selected rural households through the use of structured questionnaires. The survey employed a systematic random sampling technique to select the sample. The sub county was divided into twelve locations to ensure the sample was representative of the population. The study applied both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data was collected using a combination of questionnaires and interview schedules which was tested for reliability and validity by carrying out a pilot study. The secondary data was obtained from published thesis, academic journals, textbooks, government publications and internet. The data collected was processed through tabulation and tallying, thereafter it was coded and analyzed by use of measures of central tendencies, dispersion, percentages as well as content analysis. The data was presented using tables and frequency distributions. The summary of the findings have also been outlined and discussed based on the variables under study. Conclusions have been made based on the information obtained. Finally study recommendations have also been made and suggestions for further research recommended as such will add great value to this project research.