Abstract:
The overall objective of the study was to analyze the role of the labor supply and credit access on food security in small scale tea farming in Kenya. Labor supply and credit access were independent variables, while food security was the dependent variable and measured as a proportion of either income and/or consumption. The specific objectives of this study were both to evaluate the effect of labor supply by women and children and to Kenya. The study also analyzed the moderating effect of credit access on labor supply. A descriptive research design was employed in the study. Random samples were drawn from all tea growing counties of Muranga, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, and Kiambu strata which formed the sampling frame. A proportion approach to sampling was utilized within the strata. A total of 65 respondents were picked through simple random techniques for each stratum using a table of random numbers. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected from respondents. Data analysis was done through descriptive and inferential statistics. Content analysis was specifically utilized to analyze qualitative data. SPSS version 19 was utilized to do the regression and correlation analysis with a 0.05 level of significance. Data interpretation and presentation was done through tables, bar graphs, and pie charts. The results of the analysis indicated that both labor supply and credit access had a significant role in food security among small scale tea farmers at P value of 0.007 (P≤α≤0.05). Among factors influencing labor supply and credit access, only women labor, labor and non labor incomes and bureaucratic formalities were confirmed significant in the regression model. The coefficient of determination (adjusted r²) indicated labor supply and credit access explain up to 23% of factors affecting food security. Pearson correlation coefficient tests proved that the moderating effect of credit access on labor supply is not significant among small scale tea farming. It was therefore concluded that labor supply and credit access have a role in food security among small scale tea farmers in Kenya. Addressing the two variables by stakeholders in the sector should ensure tea sector performance improves and by extension reduces food poverty among the small scale tea farmers.
