Drought adaptation strategies and sustainability of food security in Mandera county, Kenya

Abstract

Food security projects are created to accomplish the legislative goals of improving food access in low-income communities. They help develop proactive approaches for the welfare of low-income communities by creating their own comprehensive and sustainable food systems. In this regard, numerous food security projects have been initiated in most Kenyan Counties by both state and non-state prayers in Kenya. However, sustainability of food projects has been a challenge in the sense that some projects remain partially operational after the withdrawal of the main donor while others become defunct. This study thus established the extent to which drought adaptation strategies affect food security sustainability. The study sought to establish the effect of crop diversification, integrated water management and supplemental feeding on food security sustainability. In addition, the study examined how the moderating role of stakeholder engagement on drought adaptation strategies and sustainability of food security in Mandera County, Kenya. The study is anchored on Systems theory, Stakeholder theory and Anthropogenic global warming theory. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population for this study was government funded food security projects in Mandera County. According to NDMA (2022) there are two main projects for food security in Mandera County which include Kutulo Water Pan and Irrigation project in Kutulo Sub-County, Mandera County and Koromey Irrigation project. The main study subjects was project supervisors, government officials and community leaders. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire to obtain quantitative data. The quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics using multiple regression models. The study found that crop diversification significantly improves food security sustainability, with each unit increase in efforts increasing food security by 0.086 units. The study reveals that most community members in Mandera County have adopted supplemental feeding for their livestock to a low extent, with most respondents indicating limited adoption. The study reveals a negative relationship between integrated water management and food security sustainability, possibly due to implementation challenges or resource allocation inefficiencies. The study found that most community members in Mandera County have adopted supplemental feeding for their livestock to a low extent. The study found a statistically significant positive effect of supplementary feeding on the sustainability of food security in Mandera County. The study shows that most respondents feel that stakeholders are engaged in food security projects to a low extent, with a significant majority (71.5%) reporting suboptimal engagement levels. The study reveals a negative relationship between integrated water management and food security sustainability, indicating a need for reassessment of current strategies. The County Government of Mandera formulated policies that ensure farmers have access to a variety of seed options, including drought-resistant and hybrid crops, to promote crop diversification and improve food security.