CROP MANAGEMENT AND HOUSEHOLD WELFARE AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN TANA RIVER COUNTY, KENYA

effect of crop management practices on household welfare among smallholder farmers in Tana River County, Kenya. Specifically, it assessed whether adoption of improved crop management practices enhances household food security and welfare among households registered under the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP). Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional analytical research design using a quantitative approach. A multistage sampling technique selected 356 households from a target population of 4,850 KCSAP-registered households. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression in SPSS Version 29. Findings: Out of the 356 questionnaires administered, 338 were returned, yielding a 94.9% response rate. Descriptive findings indicated a high adoption of crop management practices, including improved seed varieties, crop rotation, intercropping, and pest and disease control, alongside moderate household food security. Crop management practices exhibited a strong positive and statistically significant relationship with household welfare (r = 0.684, p < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed that crop management accounted for 46.8% of the variation in household welfare (R² = 0.468, F (1,336) = 295.60, p < 0.001), demonstrating that improved crop management significantly enhances household welfare among smallholder farmers. Conclusion: The study concludes that crop management practices significantly improve household welfare among smallholder farmers in Tana River County. Strengthening agricultural extension services, promoting certified climate-resilient seed varieties, and enhancing farmer training on integrated crop management can improve household food security and support sustainable rural livelihoods in the county.