Effects Of Integrated Tree Based Food-Energy System On The Livelihoods Of Small-Holder Farmers’ Perceptions In Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Tree Based Integrated Food-energy System is a farming system that combines food crops and trees for wood energy production on the same farm. This farming system aims at producing both food and wood energy on the same piece of land through sustainable crop integration and agro-systems. Therefore, this study was aimed at examining how this system can promote the livelihoods of small-holder farmers in Kenya, with particular focus on Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-county in Tharaka Nithi County. This study sought: to evaluate ways in which integrated tree farming can be a source of income to smallholder farmers in Kenya; to assess the extent to which integrated tree farming can be a source of food to small-holder farmers in Kenya; to assess how integrated tree farming can be a source wood energy to small-holder farmers in Kenya; and to explore ways in which integrated tree farming can lead to environmental conservation in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive study design and used random sampling method to sample 385 respondents from all five locations of Chuka Igambang’ombe Sub-county in Tharaka Nithi County. The study collected both qualitative and quantitative data using the questionnaire as the main research tool. The first, second and third objectives were analyzed using quantitative methods while qualitative methods were used to analyze the fourth objective. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The collected data was analyzed, interpreted and presented in form of tables, charts and correlations. From the study, it was observed that the majority of the farmers plant calliandra tree species at an average of 850 trees per farm. The abundance of this tree species, which mainly act as fodder, shows the extent to which farmers embrace daily farming in this region. The findings also showed that Grevillea robusta and Eucalyptus species, were most common timber production species and Coffea arabica as the main cash crop in Igambang’ombe Constituency. From the findings it was found that Tree Based Integrated Food-energy Systems (TBIFES) as a source of income can lead to a statistically significant (p=0.016