EFFECT OF SOIL DEGRADATION ON HOUSEHOLDS’ FOOD SECURITY INRACHUONYO NORTH SUB-COUNTY, HOMA-BAY COUNTY, KENYA

This study assessed effect of soil degradationon food security among households (HHs) ofRachuonyo North Sub-County, Homa-BayCounty in Kenya. It examined commonAnthropogenic Practices (ATPs) causing soildegradation, established the nexus betweensoil degradation and food security among theHHs and identified appropriate strategies formitigating the effect of ATPs on soildegradation to improve food security in thearea. Theory of Praxeology was consideredrelevant to the study. While study populationwas 32,500 households, Cochran formula wasused to obtain 289 samples identified usingmulti-stage together with simple randomsampling techniques for quantitative data. FiveKey Informants were purposively identifiedfor qualitative data. It was a cross-sectionalsurvey study design. Data analysis involveddescriptive and inferential statistics usingBinary Logistic Regression Data Analyses(BLRDA) at 95% CL. Qualitative analyseswere based on opinions drawn from FGDs,KII, Direct Field Observation andquestionnaire. While the findings linked soildegradation to ATPs, for the investigatedpractices, BLRDA results revealed stonemining (OR = 2.130, 95% Cl; p < 0.05),conventional-tractor tillage (OR = 2.613, 95%Cl; p < 0.05), together with hill slopecultivation and settlement (OR = 2.227, 95%Cl; p < 0.05) are more prevalence. Studyconcludes that these ATPs are the major causeof soil degradation resulting to food insecuritythreats among the HHs in the study area. The study recommends suspension of ATPs on high elevations in the area particularly Homa-Hills, review stone extraction and tractor farming policies, introduce intensiveafforestation and reforestation.