INFLUENCE OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND 
MARKET ACCESSIBILTY ON FOOD SECURITY IN SEMI-
ARID THARAKA SUB COUNTY, KENYA
KIBETU DICKSON KINOTI , MSc
SUPERVISORS:
PROF. JULIUS MBURU HUHO
DR. TOM ODHIAMBO OUNA
Introduction
• Food produced globally is enough and can feed all the people in the world (Leathers & Foster, 2009).
• Current world food system of agricultural production, food processing, distribution and sale of food does
not meet food needs of increasing world’s population (FAO, 2011).
• Strategies embraced do not ensure guaranteed access to food or maintain stability in food commodity
flow
• In the country, Inefficient distribution systems and market accessibility problems have contributed to the
variable scenarios of food insecurity (FEWS.NET, 2018; GoK, 2011)
• Improving food distribution systems and accessibility at local levels essential in realisation of food and
nutrition security
• However, the influence of food distribution systems and market accessibility on food security has not
been adequately researched
• By carrying out this study, the theoretical conceptualization of how physical accessibility to food retail
markets and organisation of local food distribution systems influence localized food security was
explored.
• To understand their role in the eradication of hunger and malnutrition more so realisation of all-time
access to safe food of sufficient quantity and quality to all Kenyans as envisaged in the 2010 Kenyan
constitution
• Such studies are integral to help inform local food production and consumption landscape and
enhance intra-region food commodity businesses
Problem Statement
 Un met dietary energy requirement lead to  food shortage and food prices instability (KIHBS, 
2005/2006) .
 Large population of Kenyans rely on national relief food in ASALS while market  purchases is the main 
food sources in other livelihood zones (Marangu, Audi, Mgonja & Mburu, 2014; KFSSG, 2014).
 Market purchases account for over 60% in Agro-pastoral areas, 30% in high potential cereal and 
dairy zones (GoK, 2016; Jayne, Mysers & Nyoro, 2005) 
 Food flow is mostly hampered by poorly integrated produce markets, road networks and ineffective 
food policies 
 In Tharaka Sub county,  lack of access to formal markets, poor transport networks and lack of good 
storage facilities force farmers to sell their produce at lower market prices post harvesting
 This reduces the volume of food commodities traded in local markets especially between planting period 
and subsequent harvesting season
Specific Objectives
 To identify biophysical and climatic factors that determine optimal maize and millet production for the 
realisation of food security in Tharaka sub county
 To investigate how marketing models for maize and millet influence distribution and retention of food 
stock by households in Tharaka sub county
 To establish the efficiency of physical accessibility to existing open-air markets and its effect on food 
security in Tharaka sub county
 To examine spatial distribution and utilisation of open-air markets in Tharaka sub county and its effects 
on food security
Purpose and Hypothesis
The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of local food distribution systems and market 
accessibility on food security in semi-arid Tharaka Subcounty.
It was hypothesized that no significant relationship existed between;
 Agroclimatic suitability and  optimum maize- millet production
 Marketing models used by households  and food stock retention
 Physical accessibility to markets and food security 
 Open-air markets spatial distribution and  their  utilisation
Reviewed literature and Gaps
o 1st National Food Policy Sessional paper 4 of 1981 - emphasized equitable distribution
o 2nd National Food policy Sessional paper 2 of 1994 - emphasized market intervention approaches.
o Food and Nutritional Security policy (FNSP) of 2011- multi-sectoral approach to all food security issues
o Theories on markets utilisation not well developed (Mazzilli & Davis,2008; Manzoor Hashmi & Mukhtar,
2009).
o Most studies focus on conventional food distribution systems; management strategies of convectional food
distribution systems (Kotler & Armstrong, 2006) transportation costs associated with food distribution (
Bloom & Hinrichs, 2010) marketing strategies ( Onozaka, Nurse & Thilmany, 2010).
 In Kenya studies carried in this field of food security have with food price crisis and interventions (Nyoro,
Ayieko, & Muyanga, 2007), food markets efficiency and price transmissions (Omamo & Mose, 2001).
 Studies in the study area have focused on climate variability, Household drought coping strategies
(Smucker & Wisner, 2008); farmer groups social networking (Wambua, 2017); conservation agriculture
crop production (Gioto, 2018).
 Lie about 610 m to 1220 m asl covering 1569Km2
(Smucker, 2003). PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE STUDY AREA

 Has five wards namely; Chiakariga, Marimanti, Nkondi,
Mukothima and Gatunga (IEBC, 2012), 21 locations and
44 sub-locations.
 Receives bi-modal rainfall ranging between 500mm to
1000mm .
 A semi-arid area with temperature between 220C to
400C (NDMA, 2014).
 Major AEZs are Lower Midland Zone (LM4, LM5) and
Inner Low Land Zone (IL5, IL6) (Jaetzold & Schmidt,
1983).
 Major economic activities are crop farming and
livestock keeping
 Major livelihood zones; marginal mixed farming
(MMF), rain-fed cropping (RFC) zone and the mixed
farming (MF) zone (WFP/VAM, 2006).
METHODS:  SAMPLE SELECTION AND DATA COLLECTION
 The research used a cross section survey
 31,566 households from 883 villages in 48 sub locations comprised the target population due to their
knowledge base on production and consumption systems
 A two multi-stage cluster sampling method was used
 A sample size of 395 households distributed proportionately across the RFC,MF,MMF livelihood zones
 A reconnaissance study was conducted to acquaint with the physiography, household size distribution and
appropriate method of selecting participating households.
 Category of collected data; geospatial data , statistical data and normative data on road category and
maximum acceptable speed for each road category
 Primary data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interviews, GPS, cameras and direct
observation.
 Household surveys were conducted in 30 villages selected proportionately from 28 sub locations across RFC,
MMF and MF
 Household survey focused at demographic characteristics of the households, maize and millet production
potentials, storage methods and the marketing channels used by the farmers.
 Key informant interview focused on the general food security situation in the region, agricultural production
and food storage, market accessibility issues, community livelihood dynamics in the context of devolution and
the role of ICT in food distribution and supply systems
DATA ANALYSIS
 Statistical analysis ;- Kendall’s correlation used to understand determinants of households’ decision to
sell food stock.
 spearman’s correlation analysis was used to test association of temperature, moisture, slope and soil depth
on optimization of maize and millet production.
 Censored Tobit regression used to analyse market accessibility and household characteristics in the
choice of a marketing channel used.
 Objective two data about quantity of maize and millet sold and price variation across all the fourteen open
air markets was analysed descriptively by computing the coefficient of variation of responses collected
from the questionnaires.
 Spatial analysis;-categories of GIS analysis used were reclassification, topological overlay,
neighborhood operations and connectivity functions especially network analysis. Objective one was
realized through building and running a geo-processing model in Idrisi Kilimanjaro.
 Objective three achieved using point to polygon overlay analysis.
 Objective four involved travel time estimation in QGISTM 2.14 version and the calculation of critical
accessibility index in SIGEPITM.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Objective 1 :BIOPHYSICAL AND CLIMATIC SUITABILITY FOR OPTIMIZED MAIZE AND 
MILLETPRODUCTION
 Biophysical and climatic factors that determine optimal millet and maize production were: temperature( 20-240C);
Moisture index (0.35-0.55); deep to moderately deep loamy and clayey soils (50-120cm) and undulating land with slope
less than 12%.
 Six agroclimatic zone as:ACZ1,ACZ2, ACZ4, ACZ7, ACZ8 and ACZ9.
 Ntoroni, Thiiti, Tunyai, Mwanyani, Mukothima, Kirundi, Irunduni, Turima, Kathuura, Karocho, Kanyuru, Rukurini,
Nkondi, Matakiri, Nkarini and Gaceeraka sub locations lie within the maize and millet producing ACZ1 and ACZ2 areas..
 ACZ1, ACZ2, ACZ3 and ACZ5 suitable for maize production with a total land size of about 21,056.35Ha. 
 Millet was found to do well in ACZ3, ACZ4, ACZ5, ACZ6, ACZ7, ACZ8 and ACZ9  accounted for 126,446.41 Ha.
 Agro-climate zones ACZ3, ACZ5 and ACZ9  for production of maize and millet. 4,189.31Ha
 ACZ5, ACZ6, ACZ7, ACZ8 and ACZ9 spread across rainfed cropping zone and marginal mixed farming livelihood 
zones were favourable for the growth of Katumani pearl millet 1, 2 and 3 millet varieties besides its suitability for maize 
production
 For optimised production of maize RFC and MF livelihood zones should be considered for expanding the acreage under 
this crop. 
 Preferable maize varieties with potential  are DHO1 and DHO2. 
 For millet, Katumani pearl millet-3 variety should be grown  in the MMF zones which are moisture stressed areas. 
Objective 2: MARKETING MODELS AND HOUSEHOLD’S FOOD STOCK RENTENTION
 Marketing models used by households included formal and informal channels
 Formal channels comprised of licensed agent traders buying at fixed prices for grain co-operatives in Meru
town and wholesale cereal traders in Nanyuki, Embu and Nyamakima.
 Actors in the informal channel included farmers, transporters, assemblers and local grain merchants whose
capacity to transact was dictated by the market forces of demand and supply
 Households have different marketing outlets. 29.9% of the households used Open air markets;. cereal
traders comprised 53.9 % and Brokers buying at farm gate at 16.2%
 In the RFC , farm gate assemblers were dominant at 67%, followed by institutions at 33 %.
 In the MMF , farm gate assemblers comprised of 23 % while institutions accounted for 45%.
 In the MF, 58 % of traders were main farm gate assemblers followed by institutions at 17
 Notably, more assemblers were found in RFC zone compared to MF and MMF due to high production of
maize within Nkondi, Mwanyani, Thiiti and Mukothima sub locations.
 In the Marginal Mixed Farming livelihood zone, families buying from other households were more (22%)
compared to the same in Rain Fed Cropping Zone (6%) and Marginal Mixed Farming (10%). This is
explained by constant rain failure in this area resulting to crop failure and over reliance with livestock.
 Interesting to note that 18% of wholesale and retail cereal traders were mostly concentrated within Marginal
Mixed Farming livelihood zone because most households were food deficit and therefore sold livestock to
purchase food.
Objective3: MEASUREMENT OF PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY TO MARKETS
 Composed Index of Critical Accessibility was developed to identify ;Very High risk, High risk, Medium
risk, Low risk and Very Low risks accessibility areas.
 33,595 people live in very high risk inaccessibility areas; 25,351 in high risk zones; 34,325 persons in
moderate risk regions; 31,888 people in low risk inaccessibility areas while 20,755 exist in Very low risk
inaccessibility areas.
 Two kinds of movement were considered; pedestrian walking where no clear roads exist and motorised
transport on established road network
MARKET ACCESSIBILITY 
SURFACE
 Areas with low accessibility to markets exist in Kathangacini, Mauthini, Twanthanju, Kamaguna, Kamwathu,
Kirukuma, Kamanyaki, Uturini, Gituma, Rukenya, Nkarini, Matiri and Ntoroni sub locations
 High accessibility regions are in Gatunga, Kanjoro, Irunduni, Marimanti, Rukurini, Ibote, Tubui, Gakirwe,
Kaguma, Kamarandi, Tumbora, Kirundi, Mukothima, Kithigiri, Kamatungu and Mwerera sub locations.
OBJECTIVE 4: SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND UTILISATION OF MARKETS
• Food assembly markets exist in densely population areas with between 263 to 342
persons /km2
• Food and livestock market occur in areas with moderate dense population of about 224 to
303 persons/km2.
• Livestock markets exist in low population density areas with between 66 to 145
persons/Km2 .
 Markets are randomly distributed across the study area with a linear pattern of spatial 
spread with location being along transit routes connecting trading centers
 Utilisation levels of open-air markets revealed that farm and livestock markets have a 
higher patronage of 42%, followed by farm produce markets at 39% and then the 
livestock markets at 19%. 
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
 Local food distribution systems and physical accessibility to food retail markets greatly influence intra 
livelihood zones household food availability and accessibility
 Farm produce specialised service markets have a higher usage in the study area followed by dual purpose 
farm produce and livestock markets while livestock markets have the least patronage.
 Rain Fed Cropping and Mixed Farming livelihood zones are suitable for optimisation of maize production 
because of agro climatic and geophysical conditions appropriate for maize growth. 
 The composed index (CICA) has shown the number of villages with very high accessibility risk, high 
accessibility risk, medium accessibility risk, low accessibility risk and very low accessibility risk of physical 
accessibility problems 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
 Need to upgrade and expand existing road networks
 Creation of an intra-regional food and livestock market
 Studies  which will profile the socio-economic attributes and demographic patterns of food consumers to 
inform planning of local market expansion programs are important
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THANK YOU 
FOR YOUR TIME