Preface: Challenges and opportunities for enhancing food security in Kenya

Hickey, Gordon M.; Pelletier, Bernard; Brownhill, Leigh; Kamau, Geoffrey; Maina, I.

doi:10.1007/s12571-012-0203-2

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Similar to other regions across Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya's ASALs are characterized by existing environmental degradation, increasing frequency and severity of droughts and floods, and small-scale, subsistence farming with low application of technology [54], as well as limited access to services, markets, electricity, infrastructure, and water [52]. Despite these significant challenges, small-scale agriculture accounts for approximately 75% of total agricultural outputs in Kenya and more than 70% of informal employment in the rural areas, playing a vital role in rural livelihoods [55]. The government of Kenya therefore sees potential in focusing on smallholder farmers as a key group in the commercialization and modernization of farming in the ASALs [52].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation

2020

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Within agricultural innovation systems (AIS), various stakeholder groups inevitably interpret 'innovation' from their own vantage point of privilege and power. In rural developing areas where small-scale and subsistence farming systems support livelihoods, dominant policy actors often focus heavily on participatory modernization and commercialization initiatives to enhance productivity, access, and quality. However, existing social hierarchies may undermine the potential of such initiatives to promote inclusive and sustainable farmer-driven innovation. Focusing on the chronically food insecure smallholder agricultural systems operating in Yatta Sub-county, Eastern Kenya, this paper explores how power dynamics between stakeholders can influence, and can be influenced by, participatory agricultural innovation initiatives. Findings suggest that there are often significant disparities in access to, and control over, platform resources between smallholder farmers and other stakeholder groups, resulting in large asymmetries. We discuss how these power dynamics may increase the risk of agricultural intervention, further marginalizing already disempowered groups and reinforcing power hierarchies to the detriment of smallholders. This study highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the institutional contexts that facilitate and maintain relationships of power within agricultural innovation systems, as well as the complexities associated with promoting transformational agricultural innovation.Sustainability 2020, 12, 461 2 of 21 break down barriers to the participation of small-scale farmers in platforms [9][10][11][12][13]. Agricultural innovation platforms have been defined as stakeholder linkages that are purposively created and maintained to address specific agricultural innovation challenges or opportunities [11,[14][15][16][17] within their institutional context [18]. Using innovation platforms to strengthen the social networks that link famers to diverse stakeholders in the agri-food system has the potential to facilitate the identification of collective interests and needs [11], promote greater trust and co-operation [7], and expose individuals to resources and adaptation strategies beyond the realm of their own experience [19,20]. Within smallholder and subsistence farming systems, innovation platforms are generally created through agricultural development initiatives, utilizing participatory and inclusive approaches in order to develop locally appropriate technologies [21] and ensure the equitable participation of all relevant stakeholder groups [22,23].Community-based interventions inherently entail trade-offs between stakeholder groups with varying degrees of power and interest [24], an issue often not well addressed in practice [1,9,[24][25][26]. According to Cullen et al. [1], existing power hierarchies may cause innovation platforms to fall short of their claims of inclusive, farmer-driven innovation, unless thorough consideration is given to issues of power [27]. The participation of smallholder far...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation

2020

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“…This can be achieved by improving communication between researchers, farmers and policy makers. The adoption and success of food security activities, interventions, policies and programs can be improved by taking into account; local innovation and technical knowledge, social relations, cultural norms and gender equity, environmental and natural resources, and small-scale holders' adversity to market and environmental risks [29].…”

Section: Weak/inappropriate Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considerations for the shift in roles of national and county governance towards the realization of food security in Kenya

Wafula¹,

Odula²

2018

AJFAND

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The international community's view on the state's role in a country's development and by extension food security situation is currently very positive. As a means to improve governance, decentralization in its many forms is being advocated all over the world. In August of 2010, Kenya embraced a new system of governance which involved the devolution of the central government and public participation as its new and critical components. This implied a shift in the roles of national and county governance towards the achievement of food security. Since food security is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, it is affected by many factors including governance. Thus, the government among other actors, plays a critical role in the achievement of food security. The scope of this review was 'Good Food Security Governance' within the national context, specifically focusing on the two tiers of government; national and county. This study aimed to call to attention the areas under governance in need of special attention by outlining the history of Kenya's political economy that has contributed to the current state of food insecurity. It also seeks to reinforce government's role in food security and propose possible key roles the national and county governments could embrace towards the realization of food security. There is need to eradicate corruption, streamline land tenure systems through effective land reforms, strengthen institutions that were weakened during former government regimes and empower county governments. The role of governments at both county and national level in food security should be reinforced by viewing food security as a public good and on the basis of the right to food as stipulated in the constitution of Kenya. While the national government needs to focus on capacity building of county governments, spurring economic growth, aiding poor rural farmers and putting in place social safety nets, the county government's role should be the identification and implementation of context-specific integrated approaches to improve food security of their peoples. In conclusion, if these considerations are to be properly addressed then governance for food security in Kenya can be improved.

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“…32 Agriculture is known to be an important contributor to Kenya's total employment, and the country's GDP. 33 …”

Section: Position In Kenyamentioning

confidence: 99%

Trade liberalisation and its impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sibanda

2015

IJPLAP

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Preface: Challenges and opportunities for enhancing food security in Kenya

Cited by 18 publications

References 10 publications

Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation

Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation

Considerations for the shift in roles of national and county governance towards the realization of food security in Kenya

Trade liberalisation and its impact on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa

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