EFFECTS OF FARM SIZE UNDER FOOD CROPS ON FOOD SECURITY AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN KAKAMEGA CENTRAL SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Food security is first priority among Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the goal of eradicating poverty and hunger among nations and specifically in Kenya. Increased agricultural productivity is a more sustainable solution to the world’s 870 M food insecure people. Approximately 10Million people in Kenya, 51.45% of Western Kenya population and 50-70% of households in Kakamega County suffer chronic food insecurity. Small farm sizes, low yields, are among the principal factors contributing to food insecurity in rural areas. The study therefore sought to investigate the effects of farm size allocated to food crops on food security among small-scale farmers (SSFs) in Kakamega Central Sub-county. The study used a cross sectional survey research design. Multi-stage proportional-to-size sampling design was used to select a sample size of 96 SSFs in 5 locations and 13 sub-locations of Lurambi and Municipality divisions. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means and percentages) and regression analysis. The study revealed that farm size allocated to food crops had statistically significant effect on food security. The study recommends that farmers should allocate higher proportion of their farm to food crops, use and that the Agricultural Extension Officers should and extension service providers in order to increase the level of farmer awareness on farm planning and crop diversification in order to help farmers to make informed decision on choice of enterprises that improve food security.