Kitui County 2015 Short Rains Food Security Assessment Report
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KITUI COUNTY 2015 SHORT RAINS FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT REPORT A Joint Report by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG)1 and Kitui County Steering Group February 2016 1 Patrick Muiruri (Ministry of Agric. Livestock and Fisheries (Department of Agriculture) and Eunice Mutuku (World Vision, Kenya) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3 1.1 County Background.......................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Current Factor Affecting Food Security........................................................................... 3 2.0 COUNTY FOOD SECURITY SITUATION ...................................................................... 3 2.1 Current Food Security Situation ....................................................................................... 3 2.2 Food Security Trends ....................................................................................................... 4 2.4 Current Shock and Hazards .............................................................................................. 4 3.0 IMPACT OF RAINFALL PERFORMANCE, SHOCKS AND HAZARDS ...................... 5 3.1 Crop Production ............................................................................................................... 5 3.2 Livestock Production........................................................................................................ 6 3.3 Water and Sanitation ........................................................................................................ 7 3.4 Markets and Trade ............................................................................................................ 8 3.5 Health and Nutrition ....................................................................................................... 10 3.6 Education ........................................................................................................................ 11 3.7 Coping Mechanism ........................................................................................................ 11 3.8 Ongoing Interventions .................................................................................................... 12 3.9 Sub County Ranking ...................................................................................................... 14 4.0 FOOD SECURITY PROGNOSIS ..................................................................................... 15 4.1 Prognosis Assumptions .................................................................................................. 15 4.2 Food Security Outcomes for the February, March and April ........................................ 15 4.3 Food Security Outcomes for May, June and July .......................................................... 16 5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 16 5.1 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 16 5.2 Summary of Recommendations ..................................................................................... 16 6.0 ANNEXES ......................................................................................................................... 17 Annex I Food Interventions.................................................................................................. 17 Annex II Non-Food Interventions (by Sector) ..................................................................... 17 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 County Background Kitui County is located in the lower eastern region of Kenya, bordering Embu and Tharaka Nithi to the North, Taita Taveta to the South, Makueni to the West, Machakos to the Northwest and Tana River to the East. The county has eight sub counties namely; Kitui Central, Kitui South, Kitui East, Kitui Rural, Kitui West, Mwingi North, Mwingi West and Mwingi Central. There are three livelihood zones in the County, marginal mixed farming, mixed farming livelihood zone and formal employment, having 44, 52 and 4 percent of the County population respectively (Figure 1). The county has a population of 1,012,710 people2 and covers an area of 30,570 square kilometres, of which 6,370 square kilometres is covered by Tsavo National Park. Figure 1: Proportion of population by livelihood 1.2 Current Factors Affecting Food Security The factors affecting food security in Kitui County include; Livestock diseases mainly Pests des Petits Ruminantis (PPR) and Contagious Caprine Pleuro- Pneumonia (CCPP). Human-wildlife conflict in Kitui East, Kitui South, Mwingi North and Mwingi Central. In-migration of pastoralists from Tana River County. Poor farming methods. 2.0 COUNTY FOOD SECURITY SITUATION 2.1 Current Food Security Situation The county is classified as being in Minimal Phase (IPC Phase 1) for both the mixed farming and marginal mixed farming livelihood zones. In December 2015, 88 percent, 10 percent and one percent of the households had an acceptable, borderline and poor Food Consumption Score (FCS) respectively. The Coping Strategy Index (CSI) decreased from 23 in December 2014 to 20 in December 2015 meaning that food security status is improving. Mainly households were employing less severe food consumption coping strategies such as reducing the size and frequency of meals. The nutritional status of children was normal as the proportion of children at risk of malnutrition based on Mid-upper Arm Circumference (MUAC<135 millimeters) was 5.1 percent compared to 8.56 percent normally. The average household milk consumption was approximately one litre per household per day across all the livelihood zones which is normal. Access to water sources for households had increased by 40 percent as the return trekking distances decreased to slightly less than five kilometers. 2 KNBS 2009 Consumption of water per person per day has increased to 30 litres from a normal of 20 litres. The current terms of trade improved by 32 percent compared to the long term average (LTA) at the households’ level, the sale of a goat could purchase 95 kilograms of maize as compared to 72 kilograms during normal times. 2.2 Food Security Trends The county had been classified as being in the Stressed Phase (IPC Phase 2) in the past two rain season assessments in both the marginal mixed farming and mixed farming livelihood zones. However, with the enhanced short rains which resulted to improved food security, the county is now classified as being in the Minimal Phase (IPC Phase 1). The CSI declined from 23 in December 2014 to 20 in December 2015 implying that households were currently employing less severe consumption coping strategies. The average walking distances to water points was approximately 3.4 kilometres compared to norm of 6.4 kilometres. In the marginal mixed farming livelihood zone, the average distance was five kilometres while in the mixed farming livelihood zone the distances were three kilometres. Consumption of water per person per day was 20 litres compared to normal 15 litres in marginal mixed farming livelihood zone. In the mixed farming livelihood zone, water consumption per person per day was 30 litres compared to normal of 20 litres. 2.3 Rainfall Performance The onset of the rains was late across all livelihood zones in the second dekad (10 days) of November compared to a normal of the second dekad of October. Over 80 percent of the areas in the mixed farming livelihood zones and 70 percent of the marginal mixed farming livelihood zones received approximately 140-200 and 125-140 percent of the normal rainfall. The rest of the areas received between 75-90 percent of their normal rainfall (Figure 2). The spatial distribution was fair and the temporal distribution uneven. By the end of the season, most rain stations had reported normal to above normal rains. The cessation of the rains was on the third dekad of January 2016 as compared to the normal of late Figure 1. Percent of normal rainfall, Kitui County December to early January. 2.4 Current Shock and Hazards Figure 2: Percent of normal rainfall, Kitui County The main shocks experienced in the short rains were livestock diseases such as Contagious Caprine Pleuro- Pneumonia (CCPP), Pests des Petits Ruminantis (PPR). Other shocks included human wildlife conflict and poor water management practices. 3.0 IMPACT OF RAINFALL PERFORMANCE, SHOCKS AND HAZARDS 3.1 Crop Production Kitui County is short rains dependent which contributes over 70 percent to the annual production. The three major crops in the county include maize, beans and green grams. Maize contributes 60 percent and 50 percent to food in the mixed farming and marginal mixed farming livelihood zones respectively. Green grams contributes 40 percent to cash income in the marginal mixed farming livelihood zone, beans contribute seven percent and 23 percent of cash income in mixed farming and marginal mixed farming livelihood zones respectively. (a) Rain Fed Crop Production Area under maize, beans and green grams increased by 10, 13 and 26 percent respectively compared to the LTA, attributed to campaigns to utilize enhanced short rains. The production of maize, beans and green grams increased by 34, 51 and 33 percent respectively (Table 1) and this is attributed to increased land under cultivation, provision of seeds by national and county governments and the enhanced rains in all the livelihood zones. Other important