The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Cross Cutting Fields.
Food Poverty among Pastoral Communities in Dryland Kenya
Abstract:
The dryland area of Kenya has the highest poverty incidence
compared to other areas in the country; this is why poverty
reduction has been a key government policy goal especially in
these areas. These regions are predominantly inhabited by
pastoralists and agro-pastoralist communities. The combination
of food poverty and lack of alternative livelihood made them
vulnerable to extreme climatic condition and change. This study
was carried out in larger Baringo District to examine food poverty
and the coping mechanisms employed by agro-pastoralists and
semi-nomadic pastoralist in dryland Kenya. Results reveal that
there is a high poverty incidence and severity among the two
communities. At the peak of the food shortage, agro-pastoralists
sell their assets and reduce the number of meals (90.8% and
82.3%) respectively. Compared to their counterparts during the
same period, they mostly buy food on credit (71%) and ask for
help from friends and relatives (60.9%). This study recommends
more investment in livestock economics and supporting livelihood
diversification.
La zone aride du Kenya a la plus forte incidence de la pauvreté
par rapport à d’autres régions du pays. C’est pourquoi, la
réduction de la pauvreté est devenue un objectif clé de la politique
du gouvernement, en particulier, dans ces domaines. Ces régions
sont principalement habitées par des communautés des pasteurs
et d’agro-pasteurs. La combinaison de la pauvreté alimentaire
et le manque de moyens de subsistance alternatifs les rendaient
vulnérables aux conditions climatiques extrêmes et aux
changements. Cette étude a été menée dans le district de
Baringo afin d’examiner la pauvreté alimentaire et les
mécanismes d’adaptation utilisés par les agro-pasteurs seminomades
et les pasteurs les dans les zones arides du Kenya.
Les résultats montrent qu’il ya une forte incidence de la pauvreté
et de la gravité entre les deux communautés. Au plus fort de la
pénurie alimentaire, les agro-éleveurs vendent leurs actifs et
réduisent le nombre de repas (90,8% et 82,3%) respectivement. Comparativement à leurs homologues au cours de la même
période, ils achètent surtout la nourriture à crédit (71%) et
demandent de l’aide auprès d’amis et des parents (60,9%). Cette
étude recommande d’investir davantage dans l’économie
d’élevage et à l’appui la diversification des moyens de
subsistance.
Language:
English
Extended Abstract for Cross Cutting Fields
Date of publication:
2012
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Additional uploads:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Notes:
