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The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya

Dissertation (MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Hendriks, Sheryl L.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Hendriks, Sheryl L.
author_browse Hendriks, Sheryl L.
author_facet Hendriks, Sheryl L.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:11.459Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/86355 The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya Hendriks, Sheryl L. lebomashapa18@gmail.com Masola, Livhuwani Carnatian UCTD Food Security Large-scale agricultural investment Dietary diversity Coping strategies Kenya Dissertation (MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Over the past decade, agribusiness, investment funds and government agencies have shown a growing interest in the acquisition of large-scale agricultural land in developing countries. Much of the interest has been linked to global food price and energy crisis of 2007/2008, driven by various factors such as food security concerns, biofuel demand, carbon markets, water and financial speculation. Despite much research on these acquisitions, empirical evidence on the effects of large-scale agricultural investments on household food security appears to be limited in Africa. This dissertation explores the influence of large-scale investments in agricultural land on household food security in the rural Nanyuki area of Kenya as part of the African Food, Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources Dynamics (AFGROLAND) project. The sample of 545 households was classified into households (i) in which at least one member was employed or (ii) contracted to the agribusiness, (iii) households in the same area that were neither employees nor contractors (non-engaged) and (iv) counterfactual households from a neighbouring community. The study used food security measures to assess sampled household food security levels. Principal Component Analysis explored the effect of large-scale agricultural investments on food consumption patterns and assessed the adoption of coping strategies by households. The results revealed that payment received through contract farming strengthened household food security, increased asset accumulation and improved dietary diversity among contract households. Households with an employed member were better off with regards to diet quality and asset ownership. However, they occasionally adopted coping strategies such as skip eating days that are likely to compromise their long-term food consumption. Smaller land sizes were noticed among non-engaged households who had more difficulty in coping with food shortages. Counterfactual households were better off in terms of dietary quality, resilience but adopted some severe coping strategies. Female-headed households were affected by a lack of employment opportunities in the factual zone of the large-scale investments. The study concluded that large-scale agricultural investments might improve food security through contract farming schemes. However, large-scale agricultural investments should be closely monitored to ensure sustainable employment, particularly for women. Policymakers should consider large-scale agricultural investments aligned with local objectives of improving food security for rural households. This research formed part of the African Food, Agriculture, Land and Natural Resource Dynamics (AFGROLAND), in the context of global agro-food-energy system changes project. I am grateful to have been part of the research team. National Research Foundation (NRF), grant number 102230 bursary t Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development MSc Agric (Agricultural Economics) Unrestricted 2022-07-21T06:20:27Z 2022-07-21T06:20:27Z 2022-09 2022-07-20 Dissertation Masola, LC. (2022). The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya. MSc Agric (Agric Econ) mini-dissertation, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria. A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86355 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Food Security
Large-scale agricultural investment
Dietary diversity
Coping strategies
Kenya
The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya
title The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya
title_full The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya
title_fullStr The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya
title_full_unstemmed The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya
title_short The influence of large-scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in Nanyuki area of Kenya
title_sort influence of large scale investment in agricultural land on household food security in nanyuki area of kenya
topic UCTD
Food Security
Large-scale agricultural investment
Dietary diversity
Coping strategies
Kenya
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86355