Abstract:
Many households are consistently turning to Urban and Peri-urban food production
for consumption and commercial purposes. However, there is limited research, if any,
that has been conducted to explore the effect of Urban and Peri-urban Farming on
household livelihoods, food security and income. The purpose of this research was to
identify aspects influencing the role of Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) in
household food security in Kericho County. The following research objectives
directed the research; to establish the effect of extension services on the household
food security; to determine the effect of farmer characteristics (age, gender, education
level, employment status, farm income) on food security; to describe the influence of
production characteristics (size of the land, land ownership, inputs) on household food
security and analyse the influence of farmers’ access to the market on the household
food security. A descriptive research design was used in the study. The targeted
population comprised of 3487 urban and peri-urban agriculturalists in Kericho
County. A sample of 341 Urban and peri-urban agriculturalists was sampled using
Multistage Sampling method. Data was collected using a structured and unstructured
questionnaire. Data were then analysed using frequencies and percentages while
hypotheses were tested using chi-square and regression analysis at 0.05 alpha level.
Inferential statistics were calculated using SPSS Software Version 21.0. The results
revealed that a unit increase in extension services increases household food security
by a margin of 0.712, and a unit increase in farmer characteristics increases household
food security by a margin of 0.674. Similarly, a unit increase in production
characteristics increases household food security by a margin of 0.791, and unit
increase in access to market increases access to household food security by a margin
of 0.833. The study concluded that extension services, farmer characteristics
production characteristics and access to market directly influence household food
security in Kericho County. Based on the outcomes of the research, it is suggested
that the County Government and other stakeholders provide capacity enhancement to
the farmers in the urban and Peri-urban setting to enhance food sustainability in the
county. The study results will be useful to the County government in planning and
policy-making. The academicians and researchers can also be advantaged by this
study's findings in filling the knowledge gap about the study area.
