Biofuels And Food Crop Production: A Case Study Of Mpeketoni Division, Lamu District Kenya

ABSTRACT

The principal aim of the study was to assess the degree of bio fuels and its role in food crop

production in Mpeketoni division in Larnu district, Coast Kenya. The study was conducted

among large bio fuel scheme farmers, smaliholder farmers and collaborative reserve farmers.

Bio fuel was looked upon as a critical issue towards problems associated with food crop

production such as high food prices, scarcity of food, land tenure conflicts between the inter

cultural tribes and changes in food patterns among others which were included in the

statement of the problem. The significance of the study to the Goverm-nent in terms of

provision of aid such as provision of relief food and sending funds among other aius.

The researcher had to base on the methodology which focussed on the description of the

methods and techniques that were used to gather information for effective analysis of that

data. This Chapter as well covers the study area comprised of the geographical location of the

study area in coast province, Kenya which was situated 459 kilometres south east (138°) of

the approximate center of Kenya and 446 kilometres east (102°) of the capital Nairobi.

Sampling design was derived using the Sloven’s formula in that 65 being the population, by

using the Sloven’s formula the researcher arrived at 55 which were the targeted respondents,

data collection instruments such as use of questionnaires, interviews as well as observation

were used to obtain important information about population under study in order to obtain

accurate and sufficient information. Reliability and validity of the instruments were

considered for purposes of accessing the worthiness of the instruments to generate correct

data; data processing involved organizing the correct and well answered questionnaires.

Analysis was done by use of frequency tables, percentages and pie charts.

Lastly but not least the research covered a descriptive study design in which both qualitative

and quantitative methods were adopted. Data was analyzed, coded and presented using tables

and pie charts followed by discussions of the research findings. For example, among the

findings, the researcher assessed the driving factors which promoted the use of bio fuels and

according to the findings; the researcher could tell that availability (40%) was the major

driving factor to use of bio fuels. This was because the materials for bio fuel preparation

could be locally found.

Lastly the researcher presented the conclusions as well as the recommendations of the

research study. The researcher’s conclusions were based in both negative and positive way

concerning the concept of bio fuel production. For example, the researcher stated in the

conclusion that in addition to bio fuel causing rising up of food prices, they could increase

green house emissions and contribute to water shortages which in turn impacted on food

production. This was a negative contribution of bio fuel. The researcher once again stated the

positive side of bio fuel, that they helped in energy diversification and more sustainable since

energy is derived from renewable sources such as Jatropha, soy beans and corn among others

and that they as well provided alternatives to energy. One of the recommendations was

encouraging intercropping of Jatropha to ensure protection of food security so as to yield a

variety of food crops for human consuniption hence food stability.