*Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, The Kisumu National Polytechnic, P.O. Box 143, Kisumu, Kenya
**Department of Commerce, Entrepreneurship and Social Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of griculture & Technology
Online published on 12 July, 2019.
Analysis of the contribution of capacity building interventions of smallholder farmers to food security remains a global challenge. Despite the fact that smallholder farmers are the main rural actors in agriculture in most parts of the globe, they still experience food insecurity. The purpose of the study was to analyze the contribution of capacity building interventions of smallholder farmers to food security in Siaya County, Kenya. The study was guided by training, networking and gender mainstreaming theories. Correlation design was used. The target population was 199,034 small holder farmers selected from 6 Sub Counties of Siaya. Sample size of 384 was arrived at through Fisher's model. Sampling technique was stratified random sampling. The research tool was structured questionnaire, which was tested for validity and reliability before administration. Data was analyzed through correlation and regression models and presented through tables. It showed that training with beta value of.175 (p<.05) made a statistically significant contribution to food security when networking and gender mainstreaming were controlled. Networking with beta value of.115 (p<.05) made a statistically significant unique contribution to the food security when training and gender mainstreaming were controlled. Gender mainstreaming with a beta coefficient of.316 (p<.05) made a statistically significant unique contribution to food security when training and networking were controlled. In conclusion, gender mainstreaming made the strongest unique contribution in explaining food security; training made the second strongest unique contribution in explaining food security; and networking made the least contribution in explaining food security. Recommendations of the study were: field agricultural officers should intensify capacity building with a view to enhancing sustainable food security; and investment in research to identify other capacity building interventions for sustainable food security. The study was justified because it informed better capacity building interventions that supports the realization of smallholder farmers’ food security situation not only in Kenya but globally.
Capacity building, training, networking, gender mainstreaming, smallholder farmers, food security
