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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, 06:26 authored by Stephens, 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

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