Factors influencing food security in Turkana east district, Turkana county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the factors influencing Food security in Turkana East , Turkana County, with reference to Food for Assets programme. This research was guided by the objectives; to establish the influence of bad weather/climatic conditions on household’s food security, to determine the effect of insecurity on food security, to assess the effect of cultural practices on food security, to establish the impact of Government policies on agriculture on food security in Turkana East District. The study targeted 452 households receiving food aid, 4 staffs of the lead Cooperating partner distributing relief food in Turkana East District and 6 government officers from the different line ministries helping in the implementation of the project (Actionaid, 2012). Simple random sampling was used in the study. The information for the study was gathered by use of questionnaires as the main research instruments and interview schedules. The questionnaires were subjected to the head of households, while a key informant questionnaire was administered to the staffs of the Lead Cooperating partner distributing relief food aid and government officers from the different line ministries helping in the implementation of the project. A research instrument is valid depending on how the data collected is related in terms of how effective the items have sampled significant aspects of the purpose of the study (Orodho, 2005). The collected raw data was coded and analyzed by both descriptive and inferential methods using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) software. This study revealed that bad weather/ climatic conditions affect food security negatively. The correlation coefficient between bad weather/climate and food security is -0.75 and P- value = 0.075. This shows that there is a strong negative correlation between bad weather/climate and food security. Secondly, the study established that the major form of insecurity in the area is cattle raids which are very persistent in the region. Thirdly, the study established that majority of the respondents (63%) were polygamous while 33% had monogamous families. This culture of having many wives leads to the families having many children. Finally, the study established that 86% of the respondent cultivated less than 2 acres of land and did not use modern farming technique and had poor storage facilities for their produce. This is an indication of insufficient food production. Also the correlation coefficient between agricultural practices and food security is +0.78 and P- value = 0.075. This shows that there is a strong positive correlation between agricultural practices and food security.