DETERMINANTS OF FOOD CROP DIVERSIFICATION AMONG SMALLHOLDER MAIZE FARMERS FOR ENHANCED FOOD SECURITY IN BOMET COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Food crop production by smallholder farmers has encountered various challenges of which climate change (CC), pests and diseases are the most common. Global quest for enhancement of food security and reduction of poverty is evident as it is enshrined in policy statements such as the Green Revolution, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Overreliance on one type of food crop worsens the impact of CC on food security. Practicing diversification through production and utilization of alternative food crops is one of the key climate-smart strategies to mitigate risks from CC, pests and diseases. This study was undertaken with the three objectives namely to; determine the extent of food crops diversification, Identify factors influencing diversification of food crops production by smallholder maize farmers. This study explored diversification in the food crop subsector, an area that has not been ventured in by other researchers who majorly focused on diversification to the horticulture subsector. This study used cross-sectional survey and descriptive research designs. Stratified random sampling was used to sample three hundred and forty one (341) smallholder maize farmers in Sotik, Bomet East and Chepalungu Sub-counties from a target population of three thousand and ninety four (3094) maize farmers. Fifteen (15) ward extension officers were also targeted. Primary data was collected using an interview schedule for the maize farmers while a questionnaire was used for the extension staff. Secondary information was also obtained from the Agriculture directorate in the county. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20, Microsoft excel and STATA version 14 was used to process data for analysis. Herfindahl Index was used to analyze the extent of diversification while Tobit regression model was applied to analyze its determinants. The pattern of diversification was deduced from the tabulated records of food crops grown in the area of study within the cropping year in consideration of the three previous years of production. Results from the study indicated that the maize farmers were low to moderately diversified on food crops production with a mean CDI of 0.4974. Socio-economic factors that influence food crop diversification were civil status of the household head, Age, Experience in farming and farm size. Access to credit and perceived availability of markets impacted positively on food crop diversification in the area of study with access to credit being the highest contributor to CDI with an impact of 18%. Additionally, extension service provision by private and public sector had a positive impact on food crop diversification. Food crop production pattern in the county was found to be bi-modal with Maize, sorghum, finger millet and beans while Irish and sweet potatoes were grown throughout the year. Based on the study results, the following recommendations were made; Encourage food crops production among the young and educated, improve access and control of land use, enhance extension service provision and foster public private partnership (PPP), provide farmer friendly credit products, Avail quality food crops production inputs on time, facilitate the farmers’ groups on establishing market linkages and other forms of collective marketing and train farmers on record keeping. Finally, this research recommends further research on the economic efficiency of food crop diversification.