“MAYBE, IT ISN’T BECAUSE WE ARE DUMB...” Family Farming and Market Access in County, . Michele F. Fontefrancesco, PhD, AFHEA. [email protected]

Why Are Small-Scale Farming Development Projects Failing? Ÿ “Maybe, it isn't because we are dumb” was an answer collected on the field from a farmer in her thirties interviewed about her understanding of the failure of too many small-scale farming development projects in Kenya and Eastern Africa. Ÿ The question is crucial if we consider that FAO in 2018 pointed out an alarming reversal of world's trends concerning hunger and food security. The organization estimated an increase in the number of undernourished people of 821 million units around the world. Eastern Africa is one the regions that is mostly affected by the rise, with over 132 million undernourished people in 2017. Kenya is one of the most affected countries. Ÿ Despite a positive trend of economic growth in the past twenty years, in 2017, over a fifth of Kenyan population was undernourished (11.7 million of people), and the figure marks a rise of 1.5 million people since 2006 with a particular impact on the rural areas. Ÿ Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing for 34% of GDP and involving more than 60% of Kenya's population. Most of the agricultural activities are still carried out mainly for subsistence purposes on a small-scale, being the average dimension of farm plot less than one hectare (0,86 ha). House garden, nearby Kinare. Feb. 2018 Ÿ Small-scale farming is the main target of most of the international development initiatives aimed at improving farming techniques of the farmers, in particular the women. Thus, the rising malnutrition points out at the Nakuru County overall failure of the development actions as well as the limits of present family farming. Ÿ Nakuru County is located in the central portion of the Rift Valley. An Ethnography of Markets and Farms The region has a multi-ethnic population made by the main Kenyan Ÿ Fieldwork research was conducted in 2018 in collaboration with Dauro M. Zocchi. ethnic groups. The Kikuyu and Kalenjin are the most important Ÿ It involved market analysis and ethnographic observation. communities while the remaining part is made up of people Ÿ It focussed on 19 markets, analysing ethnographically their organisation, goods, and practices. belonging to the Maasai, Luo, Luhya, Kamba, Meru, and Kisii Ÿ It analysed the food supply chains of specific local products up to reaching the original production farms tribes. Ÿ located in the districts, around the cities of Molo, Nakuru, and . The population is estimated at around 1,65 million inhabitants. The Ÿ In the farms, the researchers analysed ethnographically farming practices and conducted in-depth rural population is approximated at 62%, while 38% lives in urban interviews with local farmers, in particular women. areas. Ÿ The main economic activities of the County are agriculture and Family, Farming, and Market tourism. In particular, the agricultural sector plays a fundamental Ÿ Most agricultural activities are conducted on a family level. role both in provisioning food and economic resources to local Ÿ In the past forty years this typical gender-based division of economic roles changed: while men started people. It is estimated that the total agricultural surface of the moving from the countryside to the cities to find better-paid jobs, women became the recognised centre of County is about 5000 square kilometres (67% of the total area) and household managing, carrying out activities historically carried out by men, such as breeding and trade, more than 60% of the local population directly or indirectly depends and other complementary working activities with the double purpose of covering the main expenditures and on the agriculture for their livelihoods. Ÿ accumulating capital to invest in the expansion of the household. In rural areas, the household's economy The agricultural landscape of the county is characterized by the lays on small-scale agriculture. presence of producers operating on different scales. Ÿ Ÿ The research small-scale agriculture is mostly driven by commercial purpose. It is encapsulated in the Small and medium-sized activities with an estimated average area market. Interviewees point out the main expectations with farming are linked to the profit farmers can per household less than the hectare predominate. Rain-fed mixed realize. Money is seen both as a tool to cover everyday needs (e.g. payment of school fees, purchase of farming that combines agriculture and animal husbandry is the agricultural inputs, payment of rent, purchase of products foodstuffs) and to increase social status. most common production system. Ÿ Ÿ The market is approached with an extractive attitude, but a passive presence, and limited Local farmers cultivate mainly horticultural products, cereals and knowledge. Access to the market is mostly mediated by middlemen. In order to increase their profit, women fruits both for household consumption and for the local and national do not appear to intensify their involvement in the market, but rather they tend to increase their agricultural markets. production, specializing in few productions, also limiting work aimed at subsistence production. Ÿ The research highlights a limited level of collaboration between families and peers. Anatomy of an Everyday Decision Ÿ The research points out the overall phenomenon answers to a decision based on the women needs and constraints.

Needs Ego Constraints Middleman Ÿ Providing Family Ÿ Limited Available Ÿ Time-saving Care and Time Ÿ Limited Transport Subsistence Ÿ Limited Mobillity Ÿ Scarce Market Ÿ Maintaining the Ÿ Limited Market Knowledge Household’s Knowledge Ÿ Limited Access Production and Ÿ Difficult Absence Costs Patrimony from the Ÿ Safe Realization Household Ÿ Limited Economic Direct The map localizes the area or research and its activities Resources Marketing Ÿ Time-consuming Ÿ Requires high SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS FOR Mobility Ÿ Substantial Market SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (SASS) Knowledge Ÿ High Access Costs Ÿ Risky Realization The University of Gastronomic Sciences, together with national and international partners, is implementing a two-year multi- disciplinary research, funded by the Italian Presidency of the Conclusion Ministry Council and the Ministry of Education, University and Ÿ Since the expectations and motivations that drive family farming appear to be profoundly embedded in Research. the market economy, the research suggests development strategies should not start from the assumption SASS aims at contributing to support the transition of local food family and small-scale farming is primarily conducted for subsistence. systems into sustainable foodscapes in Africa. Ÿ While development initiatives mostly focus on building production and market knowledge, the research Bringing together researchers from different disciplines, SASS points out the centrality of other issues concerning mobility, family caring, and lack of structural maps, and analyses the local food systems in three different areas collaboration between peers. Overall, it points out the unsolved issues concerning effective market in Tanzania and Kenya. Together with local stakeholders, integration of rural communities. strategies on how to change current practices, policies and Ÿ The research suggests future development initiatives should start from a precise analysis of the partnerships will be explored so that these local food systems will constraints of local farmers without the assumption that what they primarily need is new knowledge. be more sustainable. UNISG researchers are involved in the analysis of food production, consumption and market practices, focusing in the regions of Nakuru (Kenya) and Arusha (Tanzania). The work entails the UNISG strategic project of the Ark of Taste.

Markets and stands in Kinare and Molo . Feb. 2018