VALUATION OF SELECTED WETLAND RESOURCES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN LOWER NYANDO RIVER BASIN, KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Wetlands such as the Nyando wetlands provide communities with a range of interrelated environmental functions and socio-economic benefits, which support a variety of livelihood strategies. Because of the range of wetland use options at the community levels, there are often competing demands placed upon wetlands. Extensive exploitation of the wetlands has led to a decline in its quality and ability of the wetland to perform environmental functions. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the economic value of selected wetland resources and how these resources translate to domestic income. The study used a combination of data collection methods, namely, questionnaire survey, focus group discussion, key informant interviews and field observations. Households were randomly selected in four study transects in the Nyando wetland. The incomes from the respective resource uses were averaged to obtain mean incomes. The mean incomes were further analysed to detect variances and significances by calculation of t-values and F vales (ANOVA). The data was then represented in tables, graphs and charts. Results of the study showed that the Nyando wetland provides a variety of resources and are heavily utilized directly by the communities living around the wetland. The mean annual incomes per household from farming activities ranged from Kshs. 33,148 for maize to Kshs. 53,050 from kale production. The value of papyrus, fishing and sand harvesting were Kshs. 111,240, Kshs. 126,511 and Kshs. 66, 805 respectively. Grazing was estimated at a mean of Kshs. 129,575 per household livestock while cumulative income from multiple wetland resource use was estimated at Kshs. 636,582.73. The t-test values are greater than 0.05 proving that the incomes are highly significant while the F-tests prove that the variances of these incomes are not significant but closely related. The preferred and sustainable resource use trade-off is farming since it generates the highest mean income to majority of the resource users. However, the valuation in this research is only useful if the people are made aware of the high significant incomes they obtain thus need to conserve the wetland.