Determinants of Household Food Security Status Among Smallholder Farmers in Laikipia County, Kenya

There are numerous factors that determine household food security status among smallholder farmers; and a variety of methods have been developed to measure food security. This study sought to establish the factors that determine household food security status among smallholder farmers in Laikipia County. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 384 smallholder farming households in Laikipia County during the 2021/2022 cropping season. Data was collected by using a questionnaire to household respondents and an interview schedule for key informants. Data collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. Food security was measured using Food Consumption Scores (FCS) and Household Dietary Diversity Scale (HDDS). Descriptive statistics and ordered logistic regression analysis was used to establish the lead determinants of food security status. Results showed that the most accessed food groups were cereals and grain (82.0%), milk and other dairy products (49.5%), green leafy vegetables (45.3%) and roots and tubers (43.8%). The average Food Consumption Score (FCS) was 8.5 - food security status of ‘poor’. While the Household Dietary Diversity Scale (HDDS) was 3.9, implying households accessed four (4) out of sixteen (16) food groups. Gender (0.56), marital status (0.6), land size under cash crops (0.5) and land ownership (0.28) were the lead determinants of the Food Consumption Score. The study recommends that targeted support for female- and older-headed households, land titling, agribusiness and cash crop capacity building, robust extension services, and continued fertilizer subsidies should be implemented in order to improve food security situation among smallholder farmers in Laikipia County.