SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING PARTICIPATION BY FARM HOUSEHOLDS ON SOIL EROSION MANAGEMENT IN WEST POKOT COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Soil erosion is the most important land problem and pronounced form of soil degradation which negates the ecosystem function, productivity, livelihoods and national economy. To enable sustainable functioning of the ecosystem, it necessitates a need for proper management. Literatures explained that most ecosystem management studies focused on biophysical approaches and assessment, while few studies have explored the social and economic attributes underlying their decisions. Participation is a key element for rural development in Kenya, however rural community have a limited understanding of their responsibilities and the possible outcomes on soil erosion management, limiting participation. Socio-economic attributes have influential roles in farmers’ decisions on innovative measures in different areas of Kenya, which has not yet been studied in West Pokot County. Therefore, this study sought to test the hypothesis that the mentioned factors significantly influence the participation of farm households in management of soil erosion in West Pokot County. The study was anchored in Diffussion of Innovation and Social-ecological System theory which supports social and economic capital assessments underlying individual decision in conservation plans to attain sustainable ecosystem services. To achieve this objective, a descriptive survey was undertaken from the selected ward with a total of 7,495 households which constitute a unit of analysis for the study and a target population of 100 households were employed using a formula adopted by Nassiuma 2000 using a questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used to select the study area and a simple random sampling to obtain the respondents. Data was analyzed in descriptive and binary logit regression model using the SPSS software version 20. The results obtained indicate that age(β=-1.349; p=0.003), education level of the respondent(β=-2.118; p=0.015),cost of technology(β=19.53; p=0.00), land acreage(β=-1.76 ;p=0.036) and membership to farmer group(β=5.007; P<0.008) were the possible predictor factors that showed significant effect at p<0.05 level of significance, hence supports the hypothesis tested. The study findings will aid decision makers, local community, individual farmers, researchers, land planners and other practitioners in involvement of local community when designing management interventions of soil erosion while accommodating their socio-economic status and the needs of the farmers thus improving participation of rural community as the primary stakeholders, hence encourages achievement of sustainable development on soil erosion management. This research was limited to participation of farm households in Chepareria, West Pokot County; therefore, the study recommends future studies to focus on other dry land areas within Kenya with varied political, cultural and environmental contexts.