Effect of Farmers’ Participation in NGO Interventions on Household Food Security in Yatta Sub County, Machakos County Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the extent to which farmers’ participation in NGO interventions affect their household food security in Yatta Sub County of Machakos County, Kenya. This study assessed farmers’ participation in needs identification, selection of interventions, implementation and monitoring. The study applied mixed method approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. This involved a cross-sectional survey of 357 farmers selected from 100 farmers’ groups that had worked with NGOs for more than three years, 6 focus group discussions (5 with farmers and one with NGOs), 33 key informant interviews, as well as 2 case studies. Quantitative data was analysed using logistic regression model. Findings reveal that there is a significant relationship between farmers’ participation in NGO interventions and household food security outcomes. In needs identification, NGOs mainly engaged farmers in joint meetings as opposed to formalized assessments. Selection of interventions was done through consultative meetings, while implementation was carried out in farmer plots and demonstration plots. Farmers participated in monitoring through project management committees, quarterly review meetings and feedback sessions. However, there was no standardized protocols of applying participation among NGOs. Sometimes unstructured needs assessment, hurried selection of interventions and lack of skills among farmers to negotiate with NGOs for preferred interventions negatively impacted farmers’ participation. The study is useful in informing NGOs and funding agencies to strengthen farmers’ participation in NGO interventions. NGOs should develop standardized participation protocols, which are engrained in their contracts with farmers to enhance uniformity and accountability.