Assessing the Status of Crop Farming and Strategies Used to Scaleup Yields for Enhanced Food Security in Turkana County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Authors
Mutai, Philip
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Despite being a culture-centred livelihood activity, pastoralism alone has not guaranteed food and
nutrition security for households in Turkana, Kenya. The frequency of droughts and their negative
impact on livestock production in the County translate into reduced purchasing power of the
pastoral households; causing perennial food insecurity and consequent human indignity. As a
growing response to this perennial situation, rain-fed crop production has been introduced in the
County at subsistence level. Most pastoralists however still tend to shy away from crop farming
largely due to cultural factors and not their technical feasibility. This study assessed the current
status of crop farming and analyzed factors limiting diversification to crop farming. Further it
appraised measures towards increased adoption of viable crop production systems within
households in five locations purposively selected from two Sub-counties of Turkana Central and
Loima. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design targeting 357 respondents was used in this
study. In addition data was collected from a few key respondents from sub-County Agricultural
Extension Offices. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. On
farm experimentation on crop performance under different treatments (drip & bucket irrigation
methods) was done in order to demonstrate the potential inherent in crop farming under appropriate
crop and land husbandry practices. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Experimental
data was subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that an increasing number of pastoralists
are now venturing into crop farming for survival purposes; of which seventy three percent (73%) of
the respondents were agro-pastoralists. With a change in attitude away from cultural pastoralism,
this percentage can increase with more deliberate and targeted extension service at the County level.
Annual average yield of maize in Turkana County was twelve 90kg-bags per acre, while its annual
cost of production was Ksh 12,600/acre and the annual revenue was Ksh 32,400/acre. The annual
average yield of sorghum in the County was relatively the same as that of maize, and its annual cost
of production was Ksh 6,800/acre, while the annual revenue was Ksh 43,200/acre. The study
concluded that there is potential and opportunity to improve crop farming under proper land and
crop husbandry practices including water use efficiency in Turkana County. Currently, there is a
shift from pastoralism to agro-pastoralism. However, this shift is still slow and adoption levels low
leading to poor crop yields. The main challenges that constrain crop farming include general lack of
knowledge in crop farming and low adoption levels of modern agricultural practices such as use of
manure and fertilizer. The study established that drip irrigation had good crop yields, though not
used due to high initial costs. Where irrigation is being used, increasing salinity problem was noted.
On farm trials with spinach (Spinacia oleracea) as the test crop demonstrated the superiority of
water use efficiency under drip irrigation than under bucket method of irrigation. The use of
inorganic fertilizers is not common in Turkana County because of the combined reasons of costs
and knowledge on fertilizer use under water scarcity conditions. Some farmers use farmyard
manure, which readily available from the large herds and flocks kept, but the level of use is low.
The study recommended a more deliberate and targeted extension service to introduce improved
crop agriculture which can be integrated with the cultural way of life of pastoralists which would
ensure improved livelihoods and food security
Description
A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For
the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Land and Water
Management, in the School of Agriculture and Enterprise
Development of Kenyatta University
Keywords
Crop Farming, Enhanced Food Security, Turkana County, Kenya