Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1700 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2855 (Online) Vol.7, No.20, 2016 40 Analysis of Smallholder Sugarcane Farmers’ Livelihood Assets in Relation to Food Security in Mumias Sub- County Kenya Lilian Kidula -Lihasi 1* Christopher Onyango 1 Washington Ochola 2 1. Department of Agriculture Education and Extension, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536 - 20115 Njoro, Kenya 2. Africa Lead, USAID - Feed the Future Program, P. O. Box 424 – 00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya The research is financed by Lilian Kidula-Lihasi Abstract Seventy five percent of the African population live in rural areas, majority being smallholder farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. In Kenya, over ninety percent of the sugarcane out-growers are smallholders, and rely on sugarcane farming as their main source of livelihoods. However, sugarcane farming though popular has not been able to sustain smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and food security. While sustainable livelihoods depend on the access to and control over assets, namely, human, social, physical, natural, and financial capital; livelihood assets define options available to households and constraints on households in pursuit of their livelihood options such as food security. Thus in understanding the livelihoods of smallholder sugarcane farmers’, this study analyzed livelihood assets in relation to food security in Mumias sub-County, Kenya. The study was premised on the Sustainable Livelihood Theory and employed Mixed Methods Research Design. A random sample of 261 farmers drawn from a population of 1,907 smallholder sugarcane farmers in Lureko Location, Mumias sub-County, Kenya participated in the survey. To validate emerging issues from survey, 50 smallholder sugarcane farmers purposefully selected, participated in Focus Group Discussions. Analysis of data involved qualitative and quantitative methods based on the study objectives and research questions. The study observed that smallholders’ have low asset base, which threaten t heir options for food security. Keywords: Smallholders, Sugarcane, Livelihood, Assets, Food Security 1. Introduction Smallholder farmers are critical to sugarcane production in Kenya, and supply over 92% of the industries mill requirement (KSB, 2014). The growth in sugarcane farming, besides increasing demand for households’ asset, resulted into a threat to smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and food security ( Isabirye, et al., 2013). Smallholder sugarcane farming is a dominant feature in the socio economic lives of households residing in Mumias sub- County, yet food security is an issue of concern (GoK, 2011, Kidula et al., 2011). According to Borton and Shoham (1991) food insecurity occurs in situations where food is available but not accessible because of an erosion in people's entitlement to that food. Risks in sugarcane farming erode smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, and their inadequate capacity to manage risks, results in households being trapped in a cycle of food insecurity. However, diversity of assets are known to enable smallholder farmers become more resilient to shocks and raise their incomes for enhanced food security (Scoones, 1999). It is evident that, the more assets people have, the less vulnerable they are, and the greater the erosion of people’s assets, the greater their vulnerability (Moser, 1998). This means that access to, control over, and ownership of assets enable people create stable and productive livelihoods (Meinzen-Dick, et al., 2011); and sustainable livelihoods are key determinants of food and nutrition security (Frankenberger & McCaston, 1998). This study therefore analyzed smallholder sugarcane farmers’ livelihood assets in relation to food security in Mumias sub-County Kenya. 2.0 Background of the Study Livelihood assets are the material and social resources on which livelihoods are built, and define the context which influences households, the options available to and constraints on households in pursuit of their livelihoods (Scoones, 1999). In Mumias sub-County, smallholder farmers rely on sugarcane farming as their main source of livelihood (GOK, 2011); despite studies showing that most communities growing cash crops in Kenya struggle to put food on the table (Langat, et al. 2011). Frankenberger and McCaston (2001) argue that livelihood secure households are food secure, and households have secure livelihoods when they are able to acquire, protect, develop, utilize, exchange and benefit from assets and resources (Ghanim, 2000). Thus this study seeks to understand the relationship between livelihood assets and food security among smallholder sugarcane farmers in Mumias sub-County, Kenya. According to Deere and Doss (2006) distribution of assets within the household is critical to household and individual well-being, as measured by outcomes such as food security. In addition, a combination of livelihood assets and agricultural technology yields more income, improved food security and improved access to and use of other assets (Manyong, et al., 2006). Thus, strengthening livelihoods by reinvesting in assets creates a virtuous circle for further strengthening of livelihoods (Karanja, et al., 2010). CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals