Challenges to food security among households of community-based organizations implementing agroforestry in Rongai Sub-County and mitigation factors

Abstract

The study sought to determine challenges to food security among households of CBOs implementing agroforestry in Rongai Sub County in Nakuru and mitigation factors. The study was anchored on the systems theory and employed a mixed research methods design with simple random sampling used to get the CBOs from which the respondents were drawn. The target population was 630 members of all forty-seven (47) CBOs implementing agroforestry in the study area. The sample size was 245 respondents selected using the proportionate random sampling method. Questionnaires comprising of both open-ended and closed-ended questions were used to collect the data. From the study, the food produced by the households is insufficient and has to be supplemented by those outside the households. The food produced is of quality controlled by factors including farm management practices and capital availability for production. There is food inaccessibility as those produced are a source of income for the households yet insufficient. However, there is an improvement compared to previous years. The households’ food production is unstable as shown by variations in production and insufficiency of the food. Food security is challenged by the failure of all members of CBOs to take part in decision-making processes, reporting, roles, and responsibilities not being assigned appropriately. Mitigation factors are hardly employed by the CBOs to curb the challenges faced in implementing agroforestry. The study recommends building the capacity of CBOs implementing agroforestry in areas of resource mobilization, empowering them to harmonize governance processes, developing and implementing an M&E framework. It also recommends the development and implementation of sound policies that promote agroforestry expansion