Socio-Economic Factors that Influence Household Food Security in West Pokot County, Kenya

nternational Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue V, May 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Socio-Economic Factors that Influence Household Food Security in West Pokot County, Kenya

Caroline Kathure Gatobu, Peter. I. Omboto & Pacifica Mining
Moi University, Kenya

Abstract:-Socio-economic activities of smallholder farmers have been shown to have either negative or positive contribution towards achieving food security. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of socio-economic factors on household food security in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study was carried out using pluralistic approaches where pragmatism drawing from both qualitative and quantitative research approaches was used. Multi stage and systematic random sampling techniques were used to determine a sample size of respondents in respective locations. This study adopted an explanatory research design and employed mixed methods approach. The researcher also drew philosophical inspiration from pragmatic worldview that is problem centred and more focused on real world issues. The target population comprised of 78,946 smallholder households in West Pokot County with a sample size of 297 respondents. Questionnaires, interview schedules and observations were used for collecting data. The collected data was analysed using both and inferential statistics. Qualitative content was achieved through content analysis. The study found out that socio-economic factors including household income, education level, land ownership and household decision making had significant positive influence on the household food security with r2= 0.349. The study therefore concluded that socio-economic factors influenced positively household food security. The study recommended that approaches that would ensure smallholder farmers are able to access credit and financial support so as to invest in farming needs to be availed.

Key words: Socio-Economic, Influence, Household, Food Security

I. INTRODUCTION

There is a continuing debate on the implication of socio-economic factors to food security amongst policy makers, social scientists, development workers and local people involved in promoting food security in developing countries (FAO, 2014). It has been shown that socio-economic activities of smallholder farmers have a negative or positive contribution towards achieving food security (Yahya & Xiaohui, 2014).
Food Security and development are now familiar concepts to a majority of researchers throughout the world, particularly among the developing countries, such as Kenya. Within the developing world, Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, is classified as one of the poorest regions associated with escalating food security problems. As long as a society is deficient in all its food needs, poverty is inevitable, since food insecurity is viewed as both a cause and a consequence of poverty (Sanchez, et al., 2005).

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