Sorghum production for food security: A socioeconomic analysis of sorghum production in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya’s Vision 2030 identifies agriculture as one of the key sectors to deliver sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods for the poor in the rural areas. However, the sector continues to face several endemic and emerging constraints that require special attention. During the first two decades after independence, Kenya’s economy grew at an average rate of 6 percent per year and this was substantially driven by a robust agriculture sector. However, until about five years ago, the overall economy barely grew, partly as a result of a decline in agricultural activities. The agriculture sector continues to face challenges in production due to frequent and prolonged drought hence the need for drought resistant crops like sorghum. The utility of sorghum is in its climatic adaptability and household as well as industrial use. However, there is a remarkably low production as well as consumption among Kenyan communities against the food security challenges. This paper provides insights into the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and the factors that influence their participation in its production. Simple random and snowball sampling methods were applied in collecting data from 207 farmers using a questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using the double hurdle model. Of the factors under study, only land tenure, gender, farm size and educational level were significantly influencing sorghum production in the study area. It was recommended that more women should be encouraged to participate in sorghum production as it was found that they participated in sorghum production more than men.