Linkages between Rural Poverty and Land Use in Nyando and Muhoroni Sub Counties Kenya

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between rural poverty and land use among households in Nyando and Muhoroni Sub counties in Kenya. A Cross-sectional research design involving use of both systematic random sampling and purposive sampling was used in this study. Primary data was obtained using structured questionnaires to interview a minimum of 250 household heads from the two sub counties in Western Kenya. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics. The Pearson product moment correlation (r) was used to determine the strength of the linkages between rural poverty and land use. The results showed that the Maize was by far the most dominant crop grown by 95.6 percent of the households compared to other different land use practices. In addition, results also indicated a significant relationship between rural poverty and land use in the two sub counties. The study therefore concludes that policies that increase households awareness on efficient and practical land use patterns that will help them break the vicious cycle of poverty given their diminishing sizes of land. Keywords: Rural Poverty, Land Use, land tenure, Nyando, Muhoron