Analysing Socio-Economic Characteristics Influencing Disaster Risk Management Approaches for Food Crop Production in Siaya County, Kenya

Abstract

Socio-economic characteristics are a complex interplay of factors that have shown a changing trend and diversities worldwide. In Siaya County, food crop production has negatively been affected by climate change, making households to engage in different disaster risk management approaches to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change for increased food crop production. Socio-economic attributes have potential influence on the choice and adoption of the disaster risk management approaches used to increase food crop production.  This study analyzed the socio-economic characteristics influencing disaster risk management approaches for food crop production in Siaya County. The study used descriptive survey and correlation research designs. A sample size of 385 households was determined through sampling techniques comprising multistage and proportionate. Secondary data were obtained from the publications, Journals, internet sources and newspapers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to correlate socio-economic characteristics and the disaster risk management approaches using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) Version 20.0 for percentages, frequencies and level of significance while narrative analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.  Findings revealed varying strengths of relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and disaster risk management approaches. Age (r = 0.594, P<0.05), Gender (r = 0.610, p < 0.05), Marital status (r = 0.899, p<0.05), Education level (r = 0.072, p > 0.05), Occupation (r = 0.537, p < 0.05), Year of residence (r = 0.880, p < 0.05), Monthly income (r = 0.523, p < 0.05), Family size (r = 0.456, p > 0.05) and land tenure (r = 0.878, p=0.05). The study concludes that all the socio-economic characteristics influenced disaster risk management except education level with a correlation coefficient of 0.072 which was not statistically significant at 0.697, p > 0.05. There is therefore need for concerted efforts by various stakeholders in food crop production and disaster risk reduction to consider socio-economic factors when planning for interventions and advocate for application of the disaster risk management approaches to mitigate agricultural risks from the changing climate for sustainable food crop production.