Effects of Gender Roles on Food Security among Rural Households in Baringo North Sub-County of Baringo County, Kenya
##article.abstract##
Agriculture is the main contributor to rural livelihoods and food security in developing economies. However, household agricultural productivity and food security is a function of resource investments that are often subjected to gender influences in financial accessibility and ownership of property. This study examines the effects of gender roles on food security among rural households, with intention to providing information that enhances poverty reduction and economic equality among rural households in the area. The study adopted survey design, carried out in Baringo North sub-County with a population of 19,734 with a sample of 127 households, attained through simple random and systematic sampling procedure. The instruments of study were a questionnaire administered to select households. Chi-square method was used to evaluate the factors influencing farm productivity while descriptive data representation was done through frequencies, percentages, tables and charts. The results of the study showed that majority of the respondents (51%) were females while (49%) were male. In terms of household activities females (91%) dominated planting and weeding with men (80%) owning land. Land ownership affects agricultural production as shown by 98% of the respondents in that it tends to affect access to credit and farming activity to be done. Since most of the land is owned by men (80%), they generally influence the type of farming activity done and financial decisions made. Chi square analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between gender roles and food security as p value was less than 0.05,(p=0.000), which means that gender roles in the study area affect household food security, hence women need to be financially empowered to improve food security in Baringo. Also education level and land ownership strongly influence household food security. This study recommends that women be considered to mainstream agricultural development since maximum productivity cannot be met without involving them.
References
Delivery System”. In Adedoyin, S.F and Aihonsu, J.O.Y (Eds) Sustainable Development in Rural Nigeria. Proceedings of the Eight Annual Conference of the Nigerian Rural Sociological Association. pp. 108 – 118
Bindlish, V. & Evenson, R. E. (2003). Evaluation of the performance of T&V extension in Kenya, World Bank technical Paper No. (208, Africa Technical Department series, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Eboh, E.C & Ogbazi. J. (2000). “The Role of Women in Nigerian Agricultural Production and Development”. In Ikeme, A.I. The Challenges of Agriculture in National Development (Ed). pp. 117 – 1(26).
Enete, A.A., Nweke, F.I. & Tollens. E. (2004). “Gender and Cassava Processing in Africa”. Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, 43, No 1: 57 – 69. Equity. In: Entebbe, A.C. (ed.), the agricultural sector programme support in Uganda. Preceedings of a workshop on Gender and poverty in Entebbe, Uganda. Pp 67-73.
FAO (2011) gender and food security, synthesis report of regional documents; Africa and Asia.
FAO (2011): The state of Food and Agriculture –Women in agriculture.
Kamga T.R & Tchouamo I.R (2016). Gender inequality in smallholder onion (allium cepa l.) production in the far north region of Cameroon .Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security Vol 1, Issue 3, pp85-103
Kishor, S. (2000). Empowerment of women in Egypt and links to the survival and health of their infants. In H. Presser and G. Sen (eds.), Women’s empowerment and demographic processes: moving beyond Cairo, Oxford: Oxford University Press: 119–158.
KNBS (2013) Constituency Population by Sex, No, of Households, Area and Density; Kenya Population and Housing Census.
Lagat, A. (2000). Agricultural commercialization and women farmers in Kenya. In: A. Lagat (ed.), Women farmers and commercial ventures. Increasing food security in developing countries, Boulder: Lynne Rienner: 317-342.
Lopez-Claros P. & Zahidi, O. (2005). Women’s empowerment: Measuring the global gender gap. World Economic Forum: Geneva.
Mulugeta N & Amsalu A (2014). Gender participation and decision making process in farming
activiteies in Yilman Densa District, Ethiopia. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development Vol.5, No.1
Ogundele, O.O & Okoruwa. V.O, (2006). “Technical Efficiency Differentials in Rice Production Technologies in Nigeria”. AERC Research Paper 154, Nairobi, Kenya .Retrieved October 10, 2006 from http://www.aecrafrica.org/documents/rp154.pdf
O’Laughlin, B. (2007). A bigger piece of a very small pie: Intra-household resource allocation and poverty reduction in Africa. Development and Change 38(1): 21-44.
Silvestril (2015) Households and Food Security: Lessons from Food Secure Households in East Africa. Agriculture and Food Security.
Sumukwo J, Adano, R., & Kipkoech A.K. (2013). Valuation of Natural Insurance Demand for Non-Timber Forest Products in South Nandi, Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences (JETEMS) 4(1): 89-97
Udry. U. (2009). 2009 Survey on the role of women in development. Women’s control over Economic resources and access to financial resources, including microfinance. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York.
