Effects of seasonality on household food availability among smallholder rural households in Kenya: impact of land size, household size and composition
Kigutha, H.N.; Staveren, W.A. van; Veerman, W.; Hautvast, J.G.A.J.
Ecology of Food and Nutrition 37(1): 73-100
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0367-0244 DOI: 10.1080/03670244.1998.9991538Document Number: 410810
A comparative observational survey of climatic seasonality on household food security among smallholder rural households was carried out in 94 households from a unimodal climatic area in Kenya. An inventory of all the foods entering and leaving the households was kept on a monthly basis for 14 months. Results showed that the households were able to meet about 88% of energy requirements which came mainly from own production, with purchases contributing only 12%. Grouping the households by size showed that small households (< 4 persons) had more than adequate food (181%) while large households (> 7 persons) had only 68% of requirement. Comparing the food available to households with children with those of elderly subjects showed that child households were more energy deficient meeting 62% of energy needs compared with elderly households meeting 115% of energy needs. Three acres of land was not sufficient to sustain the food needs of an average sized low income family. It is concluded that there is an urgent need to address the poverty issue among smallholder households in Kenya especially as they comprise the majority of the population.