Contribution of Agricultural Extension to Insect Farming for Food and Nutritional Security among Smallholder Farmers in the Kenyan Lake Victoria Basin

Abstract

The study intended to investigate the contribution of agricultural extension on edible insect farming for food and feed nutritional security among smallholder farmers of Siaya County in Kenya. There was no explicit study on the contribution of agricultural extension on insect farming as evidenced by the existing literature. Specifically, the study aimed at determining the influence of agricultural extension on the production of insects as food and feeds among smallholder farmers in the study area. In so doing, the study probed relevant questions to establish the role of agricultural extension in the promotion of insects for food. The study adopted a descriptive survey design since it allows for collection of large amounts of data from the target population. Both primary and secondary data was collected from the respondents which included small holder farmers, extension service providers and stakeholders in the insect food farming and value addition sectors. A sample size of 210 respondents from a population of 443 were interviewed using questionnaires. The data collected was analysed quantitatively using standard statistical packages to extract various pieces of information namely household characteristics, insect food and feed technology within households, status of food and nutritional security, status of livelihoods and challenges to improvement of food and feed nutritional security and general livelihoods. The general outcome of the analysis indicated that extension service provision had influence on the production of insects among small holder farmers. The study generated crucial knowledge to various stakeholders and players in the agricultural sector, key among them being Governments and Non-Governmental agencies promoting new technologies to enhance food and nutritional security. Keywords: contribution of agricultural extension, insect farming for food and feeds, small holder farmer, value addition, adoption, nutrition security DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-1-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2023