LAND CONSOLIDATION IN ADDRESSING FOOD DIVERSITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND CONSUMPTION IN GAKENKE DISTRICT

Abstract

The government has adopted a land use consolidation model since 2007 whereby the priority crops are grown in a consolidated manner in identified locations across the country. Based on the adaptability of the priority crops to the various agro climatic zones in the country, farmers are advised to grow crops in a consolidated fashion for improving the productivity and proper management of land. The study was conducted in Gakenke district one of the 5 districts of Northern Province. Gakenke district is most rural with 19 sectors where its population lives mainly from agricultural activities. The aim of the study was to establish the effectiveness of the land consolidation with regards to food accessibility, diversity and consumption of balanced diet of the Gakenke population. Specific objectives were to determine the diversity and the accessibility of food, knowledge and consumption of balanced diet within members of land consolidation. The study design that was used is quantitative approach. A total of 50 households of farmers who have been members of land consolidation strategy were selected from five sectors out of nineteen through random sampling. Within each sector, only ten farmers selected by convenience were interviewed. Thereafter, data were analyzed using SPSS and excel. Findings show that Gakenke district is implementing land consolidation policy without being restricted to only one crop, Gakenke district is diversifying the production where it was estimated at 52%, animal proteins from meat and fish were consumed at 45% while milk, milk products and eggs were consumed at 25% among famer members of land consolidation. Interviewed population has good knowledge on balanced diet91%. Food accessibility, 41% of respondents could eat a certain variety of food as coping mechanism and 62% had to reduce the quantity of food consumed per day to overcome the food shortage problem. The land consolidation practice in Gakenke district is effective, population knowledge on balanced diet is to be encouraged while the consumption of fruit and protein nutrients from animal source should be increased.