Effects of Integrated Tree Based Food-Energy System on the Livelihoods of Small-Holder Farmers’ Perceptions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Sebastian, Paul Kinyua
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Tree Based Integrated Food-energy System is a farming system that combines food crops
and trees for wood energy production on the same farm. This farming system aims at
producing both food and wood energy on the same piece of land through sustainable crop
integration and agro-systems. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining how this
system can promote the livelihoods of small-holder farmers in Kenya, with particular
focus on Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-county in Tharaka Nithi County. This study sought:
to evaluate ways in which integrated tree farming can be a source of income to smallholder farmers in Kenya; to assess the extent to which integrated tree farming can be a
source of food to small-holder farmers in Kenya; to assess how integrated tree farming
can be a source wood energy to small-holder farmers in Kenya; and to explore ways in
which integrated tree farming can lead to environmental conservation in Kenya. The
study adopted a descriptive study design and used random sampling method to sample
385 respondents from all five locations of Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-county in Tharaka
Nithi County. The study collected both qualitative and quantitative data using the
questionnaire as the main research tool. The first, second and third objectives were
analyzed using quantitative methods while qualitative methods were used to analyze the
fourth objective. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS). The collected data was analyzed, interpreted and presented in form of
tables, charts and correlations. From the study, it was observed that the majority of the
farmers plant calliandra tree species at an average of 850 trees per farm. The abundance
of this tree species, which mainly act as fodder, shows the extent to which farmers
embrace daily farming in this region. The findings also showed that Grevillea robusta
and Eucalyptus species, were most common timber production species and Coffea
arabica as the main cash crop in Igambang’ombe Constituency. From the findings it was
found that Tree Based Integrated Food-energy Systems (TBIFES) as a source of income
can lead to a statistically significant (p=0.016<0.05) effect on the small-holder farmer’s
livelihood. The majority of the respondents opined that that TBIFES can be a reliable
source of food for small-holder farmers. The farmers also felt that TBIFES can help in
promoting food security. However, the 86% of the farmers felt that the government was
not performing its role in promoting the uptake of TBIFES through provision of
incentives and advocacy programs. Furthermore, majority of respondents also felt that the
government was limiting the potential of TBIFES as a source of sustainable energy for
small-holder farmers due to its lack of commitment to the TBIFES through offering of
incentives, support services and advocacy that would improve the uptake of this system
of farming. According to the farmers, the tree based integrated food and energy systems
farming can help in the efforts towards the conservation of the environment. However,
majority (83.6%) of the respondents indicated that the government should improve its
efforts to offer support and incentives to the small-holder farmers to increase their
adoption of tree based integrated food and energy systems in Igambang’ombe
Constituency. Further, the government can also improve the outcome of the TBIFES
through advocacy programs. The study recommends that there should be proper law
enforcement to sensitize and enhance environmental conservation measures. Moreover,
farmers should be educated and sensitized on the need for growing more fruit trees to
promote food security.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of
Environmental Studies and Community Development in the
School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University.
Keywords
Food-Energy System, Small-Holder Farmers, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya