Increase Food Security Research Articles

Analyzing the Effects of Planting Date on the Uncertainty of CERES-Maize and Its Potential to Reduce Yield Gap in Arid and Mediterranean Climates

Decision support system tools such as crop models and considering the uncertainties associated with them are important for making an informed decision to fill the yield gap in farms and increase food security. This study’s objective was to identify and quantify the degree to which crop management practices, as well as climate and soil, affected the uncertainty of total biomass, evapotranspiration, and water productivity of silage maize by using a crop model and spatiotemporal input data. Using a calibrated crop model (DSSAT) and pSIMS platform, three planting dates by considering ten ensemble weather data and three soil profile data were simulated for the time period between 2002 and 2017 with a 2 km × 2 km resolution across maize production areas with arid and Mediterranean climates in Isfahan province, Iran. Additionally, the findings were used to determine the yield gap in the studied area to identify opportunities to boost food production. Our results showed larger uncertainty in Mediterranean climates than in arid climates, and it was more affected by planting date than weather parameters and soil profile. The accuracy of total biomass prediction by using pSIMS-CERES-Maize based on the spatiotemporal input data was 1.9% compared to field experimental data in the dry climate, and the yield gap based on the comparison of modified-pSIMS-CERES-Maize and reported biomass was 6.8 to 13 tons ha−1 in the arid and Mediterranean climate. Generally, all results represented the importance of using crop models and considering spatiotemporal data to increase reliability and accuracy, especially in Mediterranean climates, and their potential to increase food production in developing countries with limited water resources and poor agriculture management.

Ediblecity: an R package to model and estimate the benefits of urban agriculture

Urban agriculture is gaining attraction to become one of the pillars of the urban ecological transition and to increase food security in an urbanized planet. However, there is a lack of systematic quantification of the benefits provided by urban agriculture solutions. In this paper, we present an R package to estimate several indicators related to benefits of urban agriculture. The goal is to provide a tool for researchers and practitioners interested in the impacts of urban agriculture. The ediblecity package provides functions to calculate 8 indicators: urban heat island, runoff prevention, green areas accessibility, NO2 sequestration, jobs created in commercial gardens, volunteers involved in community gardens, green per capita and, finally, food production. Moreover, the package also provides a function to generate scenarios with different implementations of urban agriculture. We illustrate the use of the package by comparing three scenarios in a neighborhood of Girona (Spain), which is included in the package as an example dataset. There, we compare scenarios with an increasing amount of urban agriculture solutions. The ediblecity package is open-source software. This allows other R developers to contribute to the package, providing new functionalities or improving the existing ones.

Assessing Paddy Field Health Using High-Resolution Multi-Spectral Camera in Subang Indonesia to Implement Precision Agriculture 4.0

Increasing yield and improving the sustainability of agriculture are needed through data-driven precision agriculture technology. Multispectral sensor measures the light reflected from the plant canopy and generates a reflectance value that indicates the difference between healthy and stressed plants. We use precision agriculture to assess paddy field health in Subang Regency, West Java, Indonesia, especially early detection of bacterial leaf blight and stem borer disease. The condition of the study area has a relatively flat topography, with the Grendel glutinous paddy variety, and has a late vegetative to early generative phase. The data was gathered using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fitted with a MicaSense Red Edge-P sensor to obtain multispectral images. We employed Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE) to create a health model and validated using 70 field sampling locations. As a result, accuracy detection was 90% hence the use of UAV technology can be used for early disease detection. We classified the paddy field as healthy and unhealthy in percentage through spectral analysis and data from validation. This research has proven that we could detect disease in paddy fields faster and more efficiently. Utilizing UAVs for precision agriculture will prevent crop failure and increase food security in Subang and Indonesia. However, the limitation of this study is weather conditions and should consider plant varieties.

Development of a food composition database of different food contaminants CONT11 and estimation of dietary exposure in children of southern Spain.

Increasing food security is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the main risks in food is the increase in food contaminants. Processing methods, such as the addition of additives or heat treatment, influence contaminant generation and increase their levels in food. The aim of the present study was to create a database using a methodology similar to that of food composition databases but with a focus on potential food contaminants. CONT11 collects information on 11 contaminants: hydroxymethyl-2-furfural, pyrraline, Amadori compounds, furosine, acrylamide, furan, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzopyrene, nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines. This is collected for more than 220 foods obtained from 35 different data sources. A food frequency questionnaire validated for use with children was used to validate the database. Contaminant intake and exposure in 114 children aged 10-11 years were estimated. Outcomes were within the range of values described by other studies, confirming the usefulness of CONT11. This database will allow nutrition researchers to go a step further in assessing dietary exposure to some food components and the association of this with disease, whilst also informing strategies to reduce exposure.

Welfare dynamics of innovations among agricultural households in Ghana: Implication for poverty reduction

To reduce the high incidence of poverty in rural households, agricultural modernization using innovations has been pursued by governments and actors in the agricultural innovation system (AIS). This study analyzed how agricultural innovations and farmer-actor interactions in the AIS contribute to poverty outcomes among agricultural households in Ghana. Data used was the Ghana socio-economic panel survey data with 891 and 2595 observations for cocoa and maize households, respectively. The multinomial endogenous treatment effect model with instrumental variables was employed for the analysis. Adopting digital technologies in combination with other innovations, and having stronger farmer-actor interactions in the innovation system were associated with non-poor outcome in maize-growing households, who were poorer compared to cocoa-growing households. Innovations that consistently increased food security in both crop systems were associated with non-poor outcomes. The findings of the study highlight the need for governments and stakeholders to prioritize agricultural digitalization, encourage the adoption of multiple innovations and focus on food security-improving interventions as strategies to addressing rural poverty reduction.

LA IMPORTANCIA DEL GENOTIPADO PROFUNDO EN EL MEJORAMIENTO GENÉTICO

One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is the development of sustainable strategies to ensure food availability in response to population growth and climate change. One approach that can contribute to increase food security is to close yield gaps and enhancing genetic gain; to such end, what is known as “molecular breeding” plays a fundamental role. Since a crop breeding program is mainly based on the quality of the germplasm, its detailed genetic characterization is mandatory to ensure the efficient use of genetic resources and accelerating development of superior varieties. Deep genotyping is an essential tool for a comprehensive characterization of the germplasm of interest and, fortunately, the technology is now accessible at a reasonable cost. What must be ensured is the correct interpretation of the genotypic information and on that basis develop efficient practical molecular crop breeding strategies that respond to the real needs of the breeding program. Key words: breeding population, genetic resources, marker assisted selection, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)

Contribution of the Algerian water management strategy to the agricultural sector of Setif province

Purpose. This study aims to examine the water resource management and transfers in Setif province, Algeria, focusing on their impact on agriculture and economic development. The study aims to understand the effectiveness of implemented strategies such as water transfer, dam construction, seawater desalination and desert water use in optimizing water resources and improving water availability.
 Results. The study found that the implementation of water resource transfer in Setif province has led to increase in the supply of drinking water, establishment of industrial complexes, and increased food security. The expansion of irrigated land and significant growth in crop production demonstrate the positive outcomes of this water transfer. However, challenges remain, such as the need to promote modern irrigation techniques, preserve water quality, and address environmental concerns.
 Scientific novelty. This research contributes to the understanding of water management in Algeria by providing insights into the experiences and lessons learned from Setif province. The study highlights the importance of adopting contemporary irrigation techniques, raising farmers’ awareness regarding wise exploitation of water resources, and solving water quality problems.
 Practical value. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for effective water resource management in Algeria and beyond. The results of the study from Setif province can help to develop and implement water management strategies in other regions, ultimately contributing to improved agricultural production, economic development, and long-term sustainability in the sector.

Quantifying the energetic cost tradeoffs of photovoltaic pumping systems for Sub-Saharan African smallholder farms

As solar technology has matured, irrigation using photovoltaic pumping systems (PVPSs) has gained popularity in developing markets as an effective means to alleviate poverty and increase food security. Yet, there remains a barrier to adoption; the upfront costs of PVPSs pose a financial burden for many low-income farmers. In a PVPS, the capital cost of the solar array contributes a large portion of upfront system costs. The solar pump is the largest energy consumer in the system, thus its efficiency directly impacts the size and cost of the solar array. There is a limited quantitative understanding of how solar pump efficiency affects the capital cost of the solar array. This study presents a technoeconomic framework to directly quantify the impact of solar pump efficiency on the cost of the solar array in a PVPS, for a range of hydraulic operating conditions. New empirical efficiency scaling laws were created by characterizing the efficiencies of 4-inch multistage centrifugal borehole pumps and induction motors. The utility of the technoeconomic framework is demonstrated through a case study comparing solar pump architectures with motors of different efficiencies. Results indicate that, despite the increased motor cost, the use of high-efficiency motors in solar pumps may lead to an overall cost reduction in a PVPS. Counter to the conventional capital cost-driven process, this work demonstrates that an efficiency-driven design process could improve low-cost, solar-powered system design. Engineers and system designers can leverage the presented framework during the design process to make informed decisions to achieve more cost-effective PVPSs.

Increasing Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) Root Crop Yield Based Scientific Participatory Research

This study aims to improve sweet potato production in the Philippines by identifying the challenges facing sweet potato farmers and providing effective interventions to address these issues. Participatory Action Research (PAR) was used to foster community participation and action and to establish a baseline profile of farmers, assess participation rates, evaluate interventions using high-yield varieties and proper training on the use of the stem-cutting system and staggered planting, and identify challenges after the intervention. The mean age of the participants was 52.44 years old, indicating that they belong to the marginalized adult group, and their average monthly income from sweet potato production was relatively low. In addition to sweet potato farming, the key informants are also engaged in other crop production, such as rice (100%), banana (89%), cassava (67%), corn (67%), taro (67%) and potato (22%). Regarding fertilizer use in sweet potato farming, key informants use urea and complete 14-14-14 fertilizers. Using NSIC Sp-36 and UPL Sp-17 varieties combined with staggered planting and stem-cutting techniques effectively increases sweet potato yield per hectare. The total yield from the scientific interventions was 8,000 kilograms or 8 tons, twice the target yield of 4,000 kilograms or 4 tons. While the adaptation of the farming strategy effectively increased to 160% actual yield, there is a low market demand due to the lack of production takers, which constrained the success of this intervention. Moreover, some farmers could not attend the activity, which is essential to note. These interventions can potentially improve the productivity of sweet potato farming and increase food security and income for small-scale farmers. However, there is a need to intensify the marketing strategy.

Prospects of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production and commercialization in Benin.

Vegetables and fruits are highly recommended in diets because of their nutritional importance. Among those, leguminous vegetables are more important, for low-income countries, because of their protein, mineral contents and potential to increase food security and income. In Benin, snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are the most consumed leguminous vegetables; however, their production is declining, driving the need to understand the current status of its industry to propose solutions for the revival of the sector. This paper assessed the production system, market value, marketing channels, seed systems, and the constraints associated with Benin's snap bean production from a gender lens. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 602 bean producers and traders, randomly selected from 12 major vegetable-producing areas across Benin. The study found a drastic decline in the production of snap beans, with more than 60% abandonment over the last decade. As a consequence, Benin gets supplied through importations, with the highest importation flow coming from Togo (51%), followed by Burkina Faso (25%), and Ghana (12%). Only 13% of the beans traded are locally produced. The leading causes of the decline were pests and diseases that affected the crops' yield and quality, causing the local produce to be less valued than the imported ones. Women are heavily involved in marketing but cannot expand their business due to low production and high importation. The study recommends that integrated pest management (IPM) and new varieties with tolerance to major pests and diseases be developed to address market demand and producers trained in agronomic practices.

The Interests of the Gulf Monarchies in the Horn of Africa

The aim of this article is to analyze the policy of the Gulf monarchies in the Horn of Africa. Close historical ties between two regions have given rise to deep cooperation between African and Arab states nowadays. Gulf monarchies competed for a long time to deepen their political, economic and security impact in the region.
 Strengthening economic ties with the Horn of Africa has helped increase food security in the Persian Gulf. Investments by Arab monarchies in modernizing ports in Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti are helping to improve logistics infrastructure in the Northeast Africa. At the same time, the rapid militarization of the region due to the establishment of a number of Gulf states military bases in the Horn of Africa is increasing the level of conflict-generating in the region. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden both have strategic importance for the armed support for the military campaign of the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates coalition in Yemen. That is why the Horn of Africa has also gained strategic importance due to the conflict in Yemen, and therefore the ambitious Gulf states have become increasingly have become increasingly involved in the regional geopolitics. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as the main ally of Riyadh in the Persian Gulf, are increasingly seeing the Horn of Africa as their “western flank of security.” They are united by the desire to prevent the growing influence of Turkey, Iran and Qatar in this part of the world.
 The competition between Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Iran helps to attract investments, maintain general stability and improve the security situation in the Horn of Africa. Conflict mediation and asset build-up in the Horn of Africa have enabled Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar to establish political influence in the region. The Gulf states are using their growing economic, security and diplomatic influence in Africa to reduce the influence of competitors and gain international support on the world stage.

Navigating Agricultural Expansion in Harsh Conditions in Russia: Balancing Development with Insect Protection in the Era of Pesticides.

As the world's population continues to increase, ensuring food security becomes a major problem. This often leads to the expansion of agricultural production, even in harsh conditions and becomes a key problem for many countries, including Russia. However, such expansion may entail certain costs, including the potential loss of insect populations, which are vital for ecological balance and agricultural productivity. The development of fallow lands in these regions is necessary to increase food production and increase food security; it is important to balance this with protection from harmful insects and sustainable farming methods. Research into the effects of insecticides on insects is an ongoing challenge, and new, sustainable farming methods are needed to ensure that protection from harmful insects and sustainable development can coexist. This article discusses the use of pesticides to protect the well-being of mankind, the problems of studying the effects of pesticides on insects and the vulnerability of insects to pesticides in regions with harsh conditions. It also discusses successful methods of sustainable agriculture and the importance of the legal framework governing the use of pesticides. The article emphasises the importance of balanced development with insect protection to ensure the sustainability of agricultural expansion in harsh conditions.

Testing of Plant Growth Regulator and Organic Fertilizers on Black Rice Plants

One effort to increase food security is to increase rice production by providing adequate nutrition to rice plants with organic fertilizers and growth regulators (PGR). The aim of this study was to measure the growth and production of black rice (black oryza), as well as the distribution of the average plus or minus data through the treatment of various concentrations of PGR and doses of organic fertilizer. The research design was a two-factor factorial randomized block design. The first factor of PGR concentration (Z) consisting of 5, namely 0 (Z0), 1 (Z1), 1.5 (Z2), 2 (Z3) and 2.5 (Z4) ml/L of water. The second factor of organic fertilizer (P) consisting of 5, namely 0 (P0), 1 (P1), 2 (P2), 3 (P3) and 4 (P4) tons/ha. The treatment was repeated 5 times so that 125 experimental units were provided. The best grain yield 47.03 g/panicle was resulted from a single effect of PGR treatment at a concentration of 2 ml/L, whereas single treatment using organic fertilizer at a dose of 4 ton/ha produced grain of 46.23 g/panicle. The best combination of PGR concentration of 2 ml/L of water with organic fertilizer 4 tons/ha, resulted the highest grain yield of 50.24 g/panicle, equivalent to average dry harvested grain of 5.02 ton/ha or 3.26 ton/ha of dry unhusked grain. The distribution of the average plus minus data is good with a low average distribution for all measurement components. Keywords: Black Cempo, Harvested Dry Rice, Dry Unhulled Grain, Growth Hormone, Nutrition

M2F-Net: A Deep Learning-Based Multimodal Classification with High-Throughput Phenotyping for Identification of Overabundance of Fertilizers

Amaranth, a pseudocereal crop which is rich in nutrients and climate resistant, can provide an opportunity to increase food security and nutritional content for the growing population. Farmers rely mainly on synthetic fertilizers to improve the quality and yield of the crop; however, this overuse harms the ecosystem. Understanding the mechanism causing this environmental deterioration is crucial for crop production and ecological sustainability. In recent years, high-throughput phenotyping using Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been thriving and can provide an effective solution for the identification of fertilizer overuse. Influenced by the strength of deep learning paradigms and IoT sensors, a novel multimodal fusion network (M2F-Net) is proposed for high-throughput phenotyping to diagnose overabundance of fertilizers. In this paper, we developed and analyzed three strategies that fuse agrometeorological and image data by assessing fusion at various stages. Initially two unimodal baseline networks were trained: Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) on agrometeorological data and a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model DenseNet-121 on image data. With these baselines, the multimodal fusion network is developed, capable of adeptly learning from image and non-image data and the model’s performance is evaluated in terms of accuracy and Area Under Curve (AUC). Moreover, the fusion approaches that are considered outperformed the unimodal networks remarkably with 91% accuracy. From the experimental result, it is proven that incorporating agrometeorological information and images can substantially boost the classification performance for the overabundance of fertilizer.

ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF FAO IN INCREASING FOOD SECURITY AMONG FOOD CROP FARMERS IN JERE LGA BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the role of FAO in increasing food security among food crop farmers in Jere LGA of Borno State, Nigeria. Multi stage random sampling was used in drawing 100 respondents for this study. Information was collected using structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyzed data for this study; descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, mean and percentages and food security index were used, inferential statistics in the form of logit regression was also used. Male dominated food crop production with (66%). Majority (34%) of the food crop farmers in Jere LGA were between the age bracket of (41- 50) years. Overwhelming majority of (81%) were married, and majority of (60%) had household members between (5-8) persons. The level of education was very poor as majority of (42%) had no formal education. The contribution of FAO in increasing the food security among crop farmers in Jere LGA were (assisting in diversifying livelihood 96%, farmer field school 89%), distribution of seeds, 87%). The food security status of the food crop farmers was (65%) were food secure. The logistic regression model was used to examine the socioeconomic characteristics on food security. The results revealed that 9 out of 10 variables included in the model were significant at (5% or 1%). The significant variable at 5% were age, household size, education, farm size, farming experience, access to credit, access to extension service, while marital status, income and access to credit were significant at 1%. The value of R2 that the model explains that 54.7% variation in the data. Government should support FAO in order to ensure that food crop farmers have access to improved farm input such as seed, fertilizers, and others, gets to food crop farmers easily. Large household sizes and farm size were found affect food security level in the study area. Therefore, policy measures were directed towards the provision of better family planning, increased awareness and access to family planning facilities should give adequate attention and priority by government. In view of this, strategies for an effective community participation in design of concept and messages aimed at imparting knowledge about family planning to households are recommended.

Developing fertility control for rodents: a framework for researchers and practitioners.

Fertility control is often heralded as a humane and effective technique for management of overabundant wildlife, including rodents. The intention is to reduce the use of lethal and inhumane methods, increase farm productivity and food security as well as reduce disease transmission, particularly of zoonoses. We developed a framework to guide researchers and stakeholders planning to assess the effectiveness of a potential contraceptive agent for a particular species. Our guidelines describe the overarching research questions which must be sequentially addressed to ensure adequate data are collected so that a contraceptive can be registered for use in broad-scale rodent management. The framework indicates that studies should be undertaken iteratively and, at times, in parallel, with initial research being conducted on (1) laboratory-based captive assessments of contraceptive effects in individuals; (2) simulation of contraceptive delivery using bait markers and/or surgical sterilization of different proportions of a field-based or enclosure population to determine how population dynamics are affected; (3) development of mathematical models which predict the outcomes of different fertility control scenarios; and (4) implementation of large-scale, replicated trials to validate contraceptive efficacy under various management-scale field situations. In some circumstances, fertility control may be most effective when integrated with other methods (e.g. some culling). Assessment of non-target effects, direct and indirect, and the environmental fate of the contraceptive must also be determined. Developing fertility control for a species is a resource-intensive commitment but will likely be less costly than the ongoing environmental and economic impacts by rodents and rodenticides in many contexts.

Microbiological and Sensory Properties of Tempeh as Influenced by Type of Legumes and Storage Temperature

Abstract Bambara groundnut and lima bean are lesser-known legumes with high protein content. These legumes were incorporated into tempeh; a soybean-based snack to advance their uses as food. This research studied effects of the legumes on microbiological, physicochemical and sensory properties of tempeh during storage at ambient and refrigeration temperatures. The results showed that the total viable count of bacteria and fungi count of tempeh mash ranged between 6.173 - 7.903 logcfu/g and 6.602-6.799 log cfu/g respectively. The microbial load of the refrigerated fried tempeh snacks was lower than samples at room temperature. Blends of the three legumes (4.079 – 7.297 logcfu/g) had the highest total viable count while lima bean tempeh (3.903-5.602 logcfu/g) had the lowest. Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus coagulan, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus alvei, Bacillus Licheniformis, Micrococcus cryophilus, Propionibacterium species, Rhizopus oryzae, Rhizopus stolonifer and Geotricum sp were isolated from tempeh snacks during storage. The results of the sensory assessment showed that lima bean tempeh snack was the most preferred. This research therefore suggests the use of lima bean and blends of lima bean, Bambara groundnut and soybean in production of tempeh to advance the use of these underutilized legumes and increase food security.

Monocot crop-aphid interactions: Plant resilience and aphid adaptation.

Globally, aphids cause immense economic damage to several crop plants. In addition, aphids vector several plant viral diseases that accelerate crop yield losses. While feeding, aphids release saliva that contains effectors, which modulate plant defense responses. Although there are many studies that describe the mechanisms that contribute to dicot plant-aphid interactions, our understanding of monocot crop defense mechanisms against aphids is limited. In this review, we focus on the interactions between monocot crops and aphids and report the recently characterized aphid effectors and their functions in aphid adaptation to plant immunity. Recent studies on plant defense against aphids in monocot-resistant and tolerant crop lines have exploited various "omic'' approaches to understand the roles of early signaling molecules, phytohormones, and secondary metabolites in plant response to aphid herbivory. Unraveling key regulatory mechanisms underlying monocot crop resistance to aphids will lead to deeper understanding of sap-feeding insect management strategies for increased food security and sustainable agriculture.

Design of a Smart Portable Farming Kit for Indoor Cultivation Using the Raspberry Pi Platform

The global crisis and climate change have resulted in severe food shortages worldwide. One of the solutions is self-farming by using smart farming technology. Smart and efficient agricultural production or smart farming using IoT sensors, big data, and cloud service has proven its value for a decade, but the effect depends on the agricultural environment of the country or society. Hence self-farming is likely the most feasible solution to avoid food scarcity. The smart farming system monitors and maintains essential growth parameters like light, temperature, and humidity to ensure maximum yield. In this paper, we propose a Smart Portable Farming Kit design, which is simple, lightweight, and durable to be placed indoors in an urban area. This prototype design uses the Internet of Things (IoT) based system for cultivating short-duration vegetables and mushrooms in an urban area with minimal user attention. The proposed design proved better than the traditional setup by increasing the mushroom yield. With Smart Portable Farming Kit, urban farming becomes a more viable alternative to increase food security, making oyster mushroom cultivation in the urban area easier and more profitable.

Provision of Nutrition Meals and Learner Participation in Public Primary Schools in Makueni County, Kenya

The provision of nutrition meals has been implemented in an attempt to increase food security, reduce hunger, improve health status, increase school enrollment, and enhance learner participation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. This study was guided by an objective; to determine the extent to which the provision of nutrition meals influences learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. Thus the study was grounded on a pragmatic paradigm that customizes both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. Descriptive survey and correlational research designs were employed. A Target population of 875 was considered which consisted of; County Education Officers, Sub County Education Officers, and Chairpersons- Board of Management, Headteachers, Teacher, and Learners in School feeding programme strategies. Yamane’s formula was applied to obtain the sample size of 275, and simple random and purposive sampling methods were employed to choose sample sizes from the population strata. Out of 66 questionnaires administered to learners in the school feeding programme in public primary schools, 58 were completed giving a return rate of 87.9%. Among 198 questionnaire given to school Headteachers, Teachers, and chairpersons-Board of management, 193 were completed, and a return rate of 97.5% was achieved. An interview guide and open ended questionnaire were employed to gather information. Null hypotheses were tested at α= 0.05 significance level and the outcomes were: There was a significant association between the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. Since P = 0.01<0.05 from the learners' perspective thus the study rejected the null hypothesis and concluded an association between provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya. However, there was an insignificant association between the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, (P = 0.583 > 0.05) from head teachers, teachers and BOM chairpersons’ perspective, and hence the study failed to reject the null hypothesis thereby concluding there was no significant relationship between the provision of nutrition meals and learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County. In view of the study outcomes and deductions, these recommendations were raised: School stakeholders, pertinent Government educational Departments, and Authorities need to improve governance and prudent management of nutrition interventions, including policy and regulations that ring-fence resources for the provision of nutrition meals to enhance learner participation in public primary schools in Makueni County, Kenya.