Income Distribution and Livelihood Analysis among Horticulture Farming Households in Nyeri District, Kenya

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the distribution of income and livelihood strategies among the horticulture farming households in Nyeri District, Kenya through the estimation of the Gini Coefficient. The study used secondary data obtained from a National Household Survey carried out in 2007 by Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development. The estimated Gini coefficients indicated that there is variability in the distribution of incomes among the households in totality and across different farm enterprises. Income from non- farm activities had the highest Gini value of 0.6804. This implies that the distribution of income from non-farm enterprises was more inconsistent across households compared to other farm enterprises that had lower Gini values. This among other reasons explains why households in Nyeri District have varied livelihood strategies leading to varied livelihood outcomes. It is suggested that to improve the distribution of income and standards of living of the households, better interventions such as education targeting the most vulnerable or the marginal household groups needs to be put in place so as to enhance household earnings. In addition, the creation of an “equal opportunity” policy for the people is suggested so that vulnerable people in the society like women, the old, the disabled and children among others can be given a priority.