The Effects of Floods on Food Security in Budalangi Constituency in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Floods contribute to millions of deaths in the world annually. In Kenya, floods disrupt the level of agricultural productivity posing a threat to food access, availability and stability in a region. Notably, Budalangi constituency is affected by floods which affect the region’s ability to practice agriculture especially during rainy seasons. This study seeks to examine the effects of floods on food security in Budalangi, in Busia County, Kenya. Three specific objectives guided the study; to assess current measures adopted to ensure food security in the Budalangi Constituency, in Busia County, Kenya, examine the existing challenges related to floods and food security in the area and analyze flood mitigation strategies employed in this region. The study focused on Budalangi constituency because of the high level of underdevelopment caused by frequent flooding episodes in the region. This study is significant because it aims to reveal the existing gaps on previous research done on the effects of floods on food security, measures adopted to ensure food security, and mitigation strategies. It applied Sustainable Development theory and Protection Motivation theory which provided a foundation for analyzing the interplay between floods and food security. Data was collected by an explanatory concurrent mixed methods research design where a sample of 104 individuals were obtained via a combination of probability and non-probability sampling to investigate the complex nature of floods in the region. A survey was done in Bunyala South in Budalangi constituency, Busia to ascertain the rate at which floods occur and their effects on food security. Additionally, FGDs and in depth interviews were conducted concurrently in the entire region to explore the relationship between floods and food security. An analysis of quantitative data was also employed using statistical methods. The findings revealed that floods in Budalangi Constituency have severe impacts on food security, notably reducing crop yields, damaging farmlands, loss of livestock and causing significant post-harvest losses. The research concluded that the existing food security and flood mitigation measures in Budalangi Constituency remained insufficient to address the persistent food insecurity caused by floods. The study recommended that local and county governments, together with the community and other stakeholders, intensify efforts to implement comprehensive, community-driven flood management strategies.