The Nature of Livelihood Insecurity Among Agropastoral Households in South Kerio Basin, Elgeyo Marakwet County

Juster Gitonga; Henry Rono; Daniel Muia

doi:10.51317/jpds.v3i1.524

Authors

Juster Gitonga Kenyata University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9277-3881
Henry Rono Kenyata University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9931-4234
Daniel Muia Kenyata University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6485-1539

Keywords:

Adaptation, agropastoral households, horticultural production, livelihood insecurity, semi-arid region.

Abstract

This study assessed the nature of livelihood insecurity in the South Kerio Basin, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya, a semi-arid region. The study, a cross-sectional survey design with a mixed methods approach, was guided by the theory of livelihood insecurity. The unit of analysis included households in three locations: Keu, Kibargoi, and Arror. From a population of 8,199 registered households in the three locations, a sample of 383 households was determined using Yamane (1967) formula and distributed proportionately. An interview guide was used to collect quantitative data, while qualitative data was collected using key informant interviews and a focused group discussion guide. Every kind of ethical consideration was taken into consideration. The statistical package SPSS V22 was used to generate quantitative descriptive and inferential statistics, and the Excel spreadsheet was used to analyze the qualitative data. The study established that households experienced varied livelihood insecurities in terms of environmental variability, deficiencies in livestock production, land use and productivity and income and household endowments. These drove households to adapt to new livelihood strategies, including diversification into horticultural production. The study concluded that despite livelihood insecurities, horticultural production offered households new livelihood pathways to meet their needs. The study recommends partnerships and integration between the National and County governments and the local community to address livelihood insecurities and develop policies for strengthening households' local capacity and coping mechanisms.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahammad, R., & Stacey, N. S. (2021). Assessing land use changes and livelihood homes of rural people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region, Bangladesh. Journal of Land Degradation and Development, 2:3626–3638. https://Doi.Org/10.1002/Ldr.3795

Akall, G. (2 21). Effect of development interventions on pastor l livelihoods in Turkana County, Kenya. Journal of Pastoralism, 11(1). https://doi.or /10.1186/s13570-021-00197-2

Am ata, D. A., Nyariki, D. M., & Musimba, N. R. (2016). Factors influencing pastoral and agropastoral household vulnerability to food insecurity in the drylands of Kenya: a case study of Kajiado and Makueni Counties. Journal of International Development, 28(5), 71-787. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3123

Andrews, C., Montesquiou, A., Sánchez, I.A., P. Dutta, V., Boban., V. P., & Sarang, C. (2021). The State of Economic Inclusion Report 2021: The Potential to Scale. https://doi.org/Doi: 10.1596/978-1-4648-1598-

Bjornlund, H., Zuo, A., Wheeler, S. A., Parry, K., Pittock, J., Mdemu, M., & Moyo, M. (2019). The dynamics of the relationship between household decision-making and farm household income in small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa. Journal of Agricultural Water Management, p. 213 135-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.10.002

B itt, M., & Gathoni, J. (2022). Geo-Hazard Susceptibility Assessment and Its Impacts on Livelihoods in Kerio Valley, Kenya. International Journal of Geosciences, 13(3), 99-243. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2022.133011

Boitt, M. K., Albright, O. M., & Kipkulei, H. K. (2020). Assessment of Soil Erosion and Climate Variabon Kerio Valley Basin, Kenya. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protect on, 8(6), 97–114. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2020.86008

Chambe s, R. (1990). Vulnerability, coping and policy. IDS Bulletin, 20(2), 1–7.

Chirchir, W. (2021). Effects Of Social Conflicts On The Livelihood Of Households In Kerio Valley Basin, Kenya. Masters Thesis, Kenyatta University.

Dhraief, M. Z., Dhehibi, B., Hassen, H. D., Zlaoui, M., Khatoui, C., Jemni, S. & Rekik, M. (2019). Livelihoods strategies and household resilience to food insecurity: A case study from rural Tunisia. Sustainability Journal (Switzerland), 11(3), –17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11030907

Elgeyo Mar kwet County (EMC). (2019). Forest Conservation and Management Policy; Elkeyo Marakwet. https://www.elgeyomarakwet.go.ke

Ellis, F. (2000). The Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Developing Countries. Journal of Agricultural Economics 51(2), 289– 02. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-9552.2000.tb01 29.x

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). (2022). The State of Food Security and Nutrition on in the World 2018. Building Climate Resilience for Food Security and Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3017en

Food and Agr culture Organisation (FAO). (2018). Pastoralism in Africa's drylands: Red cing ri ks, addressing vulnerability and enhancing resilience. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/3308 2153

Fratkin, E. (2013). Seeking alternative livelihoods in pastoral areas. (pp. 217–225). In C. Andy, L. Jeremy, S. Ian Eds.), Pastora ism and Development in Africa. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203105 79

Golla, (2021). Agricultural production system in arid and se i-arid regions. J. Agric. Sci. Food Technology, 7(2), 234–244 https:// oi.org/10.17352/2455-815X.000113

Ind x, G. (2022). Global Hunger Index - Kenya Policy Brief. htt s://policycommons.net/artifacts/2480607/2 21/3502779/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptat on, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III of the Fourth Assessment Report. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781009325844

Irun u, M., Muriithi, J., & Njue, J. (2021). Outcomes of Livelihood Diversification among Agropastoral Households in Laikipia County, Kenya. Journal of Poverty, Investment and Development, 6(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.47604/jpid.1422

Karmebäck, V. N., Wairore, J. N., Jirström, M., & Nyberg, G. (2015). Assessing gender roles in a changing landscape: diversified agro-pastoralism in drylands of West Pokot, Kenya. Pastoralism Journal, 5(1). https://doi.org/10 1186/s13570-015-0039-4

Ken a National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). (2021). Economic Survey 2021. https://www.knb .or.ke. df

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). (2019). Kenya Population and Housing Census. ol. II: Distribution of population by administrative units. https://www.knbs.or.ke.pdf

King, E. G., Unks, R. R., & German, L. (2017). Constraints and capacities for novel livelihood d adaptation : lessons from agricultural adoption in an African dryland pastoralist system. Journal of Regional Environmental Change. ht s://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-017-1270-x

Kip orir, D., & Kareithi, J. (2013). Indigenous Irrigation and Food Security in Tot Division, Kerio Valley, Kenya. Journal of Anthropology & Archaeology, 1(1), 2–27. https://www.aripd.org/jaa

Kiptoo, L. P., Rono H., & Kerre, F. (2023). The contribution of resource conflict to food insecurity in the Kerio River basin. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (JH S), 2(1), 86-95. https://doi.org/10.51317/jhss.v2i1.332

Laibun, N. (2020). Implications of Drought and Floods on Household Food and Nutrition Security in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. The Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis. https://repository.kippra.or.ke/handle/123456 89/3553

Lesorogol, C., Chowa, G., Ansong, D. (2013). The roles of livestock inheritance and formal education in intergenerational wealth transmission among Samburu District, Kenya pastoralists. Journal of Developing Studies, 29(213–232). h tps://doi.org/10.1177/0169796X13479710

Mbur , S., Otterbach, S., Sousa-Poza, A., & Mude, A. (2017). Income and Asset Poverty among Pastoralists in Northern Kenya. Journal of Development Studies, 53(6), 971–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2016.1219346

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MoALF). (2017). Climate Risk Profile for Elgeyo Marak et Coun y, Kenya. https://cgspace.cgiar.org

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MoALF). (2010). Agricultural Sector Development Strategy [ASD ] (2010-2020). Nairobi, Kenya: https://www.kilimo.go.ke.

Ministry of Devolution and Planning [MoDP], (2018). County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP): Elkeyo Marakwet County 2018-2022: http://10.0.0.19/handle/123456789/881

Mkonda, M. Y., & He, X. (2018). Vulnerability assessment of the livelihoods in Tanzania's semi-arid agroecological zone under climate change scenarios. Climate, 6(2), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/cl 6020027

Mortimore, M. (2013). The place of crop agriculture for resilience building in the Drylands of the Horn of Africa: an opportunity or a threat. http://www.disasterriskreducation.net/east-ce trial-Africa/Regular

Mugonya, J., & Hauser, M. (2022). Determinants of quality-based payments for livestock in conflict-prone areas in Kenya. Journal of Arid Environments, 200, 10471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2022.10471

Mwatu, M. M., Recha, C. W., & Ondimu, K. N. (2020). Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to rai fall variability among crop farming households in Kitui South sub-County, Kenya. Open Access Library Journal, 7(6), 1–14. http ://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1106317

Ostberg W., & Caretta, M. A. (2017). Kerio Valley, (1973).–2013: A case study of Kenyan smallholder agriculture. African Studies, 76(3), 402–422. https://doi. rg/10.1080/00020184.2017.1285664

Saina, C. K., Cheserek, G. J., Owino, J. O., & Murgor, F. A. (2013). Coping strategies to famine among the Keiyo people living in Kerio Valley, Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences, 4(2), 163-169 https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC135865

Seroney, E. K. (2019). The relationship between choice of farm entry rises and food security among households living along Kerio Valley, Tambach ward, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya. Doctoral dissertation, Egerton University. http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/12345678 /2265

Sewando, P. T. (2022). Efficacy of risk-reducing diversification portfolio strategies among agro-pastoralists in the semi-arid area: A modern portfolio theory approach. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 7(1 ), 100262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2021.100262

St ckemer, David, Parker, J. (2019). Quantitative methods in the social sciences. In A Handbook for Teaching and Learning in Hi her Education. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429259500-24

Wint rs, P., Essam, T., Zezza, A., Davis, B., & Carletto, C. (2010). Patterns of rural development: A cross‐country comparison using microeconomic data. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 61(3), 628 651. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1477-9552.2010.0026 .x

Yamane, T. (1967). Elementary sampling theory. First Edition, Prentice Hall, USA