THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES AND FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALL-HOLDER FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN UASIN GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

In spite of the importance of the agricultural sector to the economy and as a livelihood to many Kenyans, the sector has been underperforming. In Uasin Gishu County, extension service ineffectiveness has resulted in low agricultural production thus leading to marginal levels of food security. This study sought to examine the association between “availability, access and utilization of agricultural extension services and smallholder farming household’s food security” in two Sub counties in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The study employed a survey method using multistage sampling, which included both purposive and simple random sampling to get 397 respondents in Soy and Turbo subcounty. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analysed to understand the various aspects of “availability, access and utilization of agricultural extension and food security. Data was analysed using descriptive, logistic, and ordinal regression models”. The findings revealed availability, accessibility of extension albeit with limited utilization. Results from the respondent self-assessment of the food security showed that majority (70%) of the households had not experienced food insecurity with a few (19%) having occasional food insecurity and 11% reporting to often being food insecure. The results revealed a “positive association between the availability, access to extension services and food security” (β=0.197 & β=0.420) and statistically significant (p<0.000 & p<0.008) The Chi-square analysis also revealed an insignificant (2 =0.812 and 2 =0.369) positive relationships between respondent households’ access and utilization of agricultural extension services and food insecurity. The overall findings of this study show a weak link between agricultural extension and small holder household food security. This underlines the importance of supporting the utilization of the information provided by the extension service providers. This could be through more involvement of the small holder farmers in the identification of the problems and needs. To enable access and push for utilization of agricultural services by more farmers, emphasis should be put in additional financial resources both at the County and National government to enhance the human capacity and logistical support to extension service. The use of information technology and adoption of a pluralistic agricultural extension approach using varied methods such as farmer cooperatives may expand delivery and deepen engagement with diverse types of farming households leading to greater utilization of the knowledge gained. The study recommends further research over a long time to establish trends, cause, and effect both in extension service and household food security.