Characterisation of livestock production systems and its contribution to the food security in Kitui County, Kenya

Livestock production is critical in poverty reduction through food security improvement and rural development. Demographic characteristics, agro-ecological zone and market structure influences the the different livestock production systems. In order to plan for suitable interventions by Kitui County to enhance livestock production, this study aims to identify and document existing livestock production systems,and assessed household vulnerability to food insecurity in identified livestock production systems. The study targeted farmers in Kyangwithya East and Mutomo Wards of Kitui County. Multistage sampling was conducted, and two Wards selected. Sample size of 64 households in Kyangwithya East and 46 households in Mutomo were selected through proportionate to human population for administration of questionnaires. Systematic random sampling was used to identify households to be interviewed. Descriptive and regression analysis were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software,version 21. This study identified five livestock production system namely; a) low intensive ruminant, b) low intensive mixed species, c) Extensive ruminant, d) extensive mixed species, and e) non–ruminant production. Mutomo primarily practice extensive mixed species while Kyangwithya East had three different livestock production systems. In Mutomo, 23% among which 70% practiced extensive mixed ruminant production systems were food secure while in Kyangwithya East, 22% of the households among which 80% practised extensive mixed species and extensive ruminant at equal measure were food secure. Feed shortage,water supply during dry spell, livestock marketing, poor access to extension services, unimproved livestock productivity, poor health services and poor packaging of information on weather to the farmers were the major constraints to livestock production system. Multiple linear regression model showed that TLU owned and age of household head significantly influence food security in Kyangwithya East and Mutomo at p≤0.05.