CAPACITY BUILDING INTERVENTIONS ON SMALLHOLDER FARMERS AND FOOD SECURITY IN SIAYA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

How capacity building interventions on smallholder farmers contributes to food security remains a key challenge not only in Kenya but even globally. Despite the fact that smallholder farmers are the main rural actors in agriculture, they still experience food insecurity due an array of socioeconomic challenges that exists. The study was set to establish the contribution of capacity building interventions on smallholder farmers to food security in Siaya County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to determine the contribution of training of smallholder farmers to food security in Siaya County; to examine the contribution of networking smallholder farmers to food security in Siaya County; and to evaluate the contribution of gender mainstreaming among smallholder farmers to food security in Siaya County. The study was guided by training, networking and gender mainstreaming theories. Correlation design was used. The target population was 199,034 small holder farmers selected from 6 Sub Counties of Siaya. Sample size of 384 was arrived at through Fisher’s model. Sampling technique was stratified random sampling. The research tool was structured questionnaire, which was tested for validity and reliability before administration. Data was analyzed through correlation and regression models and presented through tables. Training had a statistically significant weak positive correlation (R = .262) with food security. Training had a statistically significant contribution to food security (F ratio = 25.744; p< .05) attributing 6.9% variance. For every one standard deviation increase in training, food security was improved by .262 units. Joint analysis showed that training with beta value of .175 (p<.05) made a statistically significant contribution to food security when networking and gender mainstreaming were controlled. Networking had a statistically significant positive weak correlation (R = .258) with food security. Networking had a statistically significant contribution to food security (F ratio = 24.942; p< .05) attributing 6.7% variance. For every one standard deviation increase in networking, food security was improved by .258 units. Joint analysis showed that networking with beta value of .115 (p<.05) made a statistically significant unique contribution to the food security when training and gender mainstreaming were controlled. Gender mainstreaming had a statistically significant weak correlation (R = .371) with food security. Gender mainstreaming had a statistically significant contribution to food security (F ratio = 55.810; p< .05) attributing 13.8% variance. It showed that for every one standard deviation increase in gender mainstreaming initiatives, food security improved by .371 units. A joint analysis showed that gender mainstreaming with a beta coefficient of .316 (p< .05) made a statistically significant unique contribution to food security when training and networking were controlled. In conclusion, gender mainstreaming made the strongest unique contribution in explaining food security; training made the second strongest unique contribution in explaining food security; and networking made the least contribution in explaining food security. The study recommends: intensified use of capacity building interventions; joint use of capacity building interventions; and identifying other capacity building interventions with a view to improving food security. The study was justified because it informed better gender capacity building interventions that supports the realization of smallholder farmers food security situation not only in Kenya but globally. The results have also extended knowledge base of capacity building interventions and food security.