Effects Of Fisheries Co-Operative Societies On Household Food Security In Suba District, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Therole of co-operative societie~ in addressing the economic and social challenges faced

in the whole world cannot be over-emphasized. The co-operative movement is one of the

most effective vehicles for addressing the challenges of poverty, unemployment,

marketing, transportation, servicing, distribution etc. These are issues of livelihoods and

food security. The focus of this study was to examine the effect of fisheries co-operative

societies (FCSs) on household food security in Suba District, Kenya. The District has

high levels of poverty and food insecurity, this is the problem under study. The research

objectives were to determine the effect ofFCSs on household food security, examine the

factors.which influence the performance of FCSs and evaluate the strategic options for

improvement of the contribution of FCSs to food security. By 31st December 2010 there

were 7 active and 9 dormant FCSs in the District with a membership of 1733 people,

share capital and turnover of Ksh.l,379,082 and 216,078,635 respectively. Payment to

members in the year 2010 was Ksh.231,974,021. These figure represented a 5% rise from

the previous year. The study adopted a conceptual framework where the effect of the

FCSs was independent variable while household food security constituted dependent

variables.A correlational research design was used because it shows relationship between

variables under study. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 192

members and 192 non members of FCSs. The research instruments were structured

questionnaires, Focused Group Discussions, interview guides and observation checklists.

The reliability of the instruments was tested after conducting a pilot test from the FCSs in

Homabay County and the data was analyzed using Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient,

accepted at a = 0.7. The data collected were analysed using Chi Square tests and analysis

of variances to show various associations between variables under test in the study. The

study found that members of FCSs had more quantity of staple food, less months of

serious food shortage, more number of meals per day, better nourished children as

compared to those of non members. Furthermore the FCSs members, had more access to

ready fish market, more income generation capacity to purchase staple food, offered

employment opportunities and more access to fishing skills and seminars. The

performance of FCSs were influenced by factors such as lack of fish marketing channels,

limited cooperative knowledge and skills among leaders, mismanagement of funds, lack

of oold 'Storage facilities, limited market access, inadequate fishing equipment, low capital

base, lack of access to finances, water hyacinth, exploitation by middlemen, pollution of

the lake, poor attitude of fishing community towards the co-operative movement and poor

management of FCSs. For FCSs to perform well, the following were strategic options:

capacity building of stakeholders, expansion of markets, market information and access,

better fishing equipment, provision of loans to expand business, reduce exploitation by

middlemen, improvement of management skills and knowledge and provision of cold

storage facilities for fish preservation. The study made the following recommendations:

the community should be sensitized on the significance of FCSs; FCSs should seek

funding from the government and donors to improve on their activities. Coupled to these

FCSs should adopt the following strategic options to enhance their performance: build

capacity- of stakeholders, expand markets, use better fishing equipment, and seek

development loans. The study findings shall be useful to stakeholders, academicians and

policy makers in the Ministry of Co-operatives Development and Marketing and

Agricultural sector ministries in developing policies that would revamp the FCSs and

enhance their capacity to address food security. Members would benefit from loans,

collective marketing and economies of scale among others.