AN ASSESSMENT ON TRAINING OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN MOIBEN SUB-COUNTY, UASIN GISHU COUNTY AFFECTS HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

Food security revolves around the availability, access, and intake of nutritious food. Therefore, to realize food security, trainings for farmers is often encouraged to enhance productivity. However, most small-scale farmers often rely on their traditional knowledge and patterns for farming. The main purpose of this research was to examine the establishment of a relationship between training small-scale farmers and food security and evaluate training carried out in Moiben sub-county with the aim of improving household food security status. The specific objectives were to establish the effectiveness of food production training on food security among small-scale farmers,

to examine the effectiveness of financial literacy training on food security of small- scale farmers and to determine the effectiveness of adoption of agricultural technologies

on food security of small-scale farmers in Moiben sub-county and socioeconomic factors influencing food security. The study adopted a mixed-methods design focusing on positivism philosophy. The target population was 10,869 small-scale farmers from which a sample size of 385 small-scale farmers within Moiben sub-county was derived. The instrument for collecting data used for the research was a questionnaire which contained items to address each objective and was able to measure household food security status using food insecurity experience-based measurement scale. The findings of food insecurity status showed that the prevalence rate for severity and moderate severe food insecurity were 40.062% and 58.74% respectively. Research experts checked validity, while reliability test was performed by use of Cronbach Alpha test and the result of reliability was set at a level of 0.81. Descriptive and inferential statistics was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 29. Inferential statistics such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was performed to test hypotheses. Descriptive data was presented in tables, figures and pie charts, while inferential statistics was presented using multiple linear regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically as per objective as they emerged. Results indicated that, training small-scale farmers on food production improved food security by 0.036 units, increase in one unit of financial literacy increased food security by 0.102 units and increase in one unit of the adoption of agricultural technologies decreased food security by 0.000824units.Statistical significance indicated the F- ratio using Analysis of variance that training on food production, financial literacy and adoption of technologies was statistically significant

at a value of P ≤ 0.05. Further, correlation analysis was conducted between socio- economic and food security was conducted education level positively correlated with

food security with a value of 0.151 indicated a significant value of P ≥ 0.05. The findings are significant with regard to increasing the information available on food security to small-scale farmers where agriculture institutions act as resource centers such as KALRO (Kenya Agriculture Livestock and Research Organization), Ministry of Agriculture, academic institutions such as Universities and Colleges, and Journals. The study recommends more training session and diversity of information on areas to be trained, which directly influence food security such as new technology, and adequate awareness about the training to be conducted among small-scale farmers.