Patrick Kioko

Food Security Program: Kolping Organization of Kenya, Miambani Region: a Study on Household Food Self-sufficiency Patrick Kioko

The study examined the household food security within Miambani region of the Kolping Organization of Kenya under the food security programme intervention activities. Food production compared with household food needs was taken as the measure for food self-sufficiency. Farm production of the three main food crops (maize, cowpeas and pigeon peas), livestock and family generating income activities were taken as the major contributors to household food self-sufficiency. The respondents were members of a farm household who performed most of the household activities and all were from Miambani region. The study sample was composed of 50 respondents both men and women. The study found that food self-sufficiency at household level depended on many factors like household size, farm size and family labour. It was found that the respondents kept livestock and used animal power and hand hoes as farm labour for land preparation. The oxen were either hired or privately owned. Farm size from an economic point of view is an important factor associated with farm production. In conclusion, the majority of the households depended on farming for their household food needs.