Modeling the impact of natural resource-based poverty traps on food security in Kenya: The Crops, Livestock and Soils in Smallholder Economic Systems (CLASSES) model
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 06:26authored byStephens, EC, Nicholson, CF, Brown, DR, David ParsonsDavid Parsons, Barrett, CB, Lehmann, J, Mbugua, D, Ngoze, S, Pell, AN, Riha, SJ
We investigate the interactions between natural resource-based poverty traps and food security for smallholder farms in highland Kenya using a recently developed system dynamics bio-economic model. This approach permits examination of the complex interactions and feedback between farm household economic decision-making and long-term soil fertility dynamics that characterize persistent poverty and food insecurity among smallholders in rural highland Kenya. We examine the effects of changing initial endowments of land and stocks of soil organic matter on smallholders' well being, as reflected in several different indicators. We show that larger and higher quality land endowments permit accumulation of cash and livestock resources and conservation of soil organic matter relative to smaller or more degraded farms. This suggests the existence of asset thresholds that divide food secure households from food insecure ones.
History
Publication title
Food Security: the science, sociology and economics of food production and access to food
Volume
4
Pagination
423-439
ISSN
1876-4517
Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Place of publication
Netherlands
Rights statement
Copyright 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. & International Society for Plant Pathology.
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Environmentally sustainable plant production not elsewhere classified