Diversification of household livelihood strategies for tobacco small-holder farmers: a case study of introducing bamboo in South Nyanza region, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, tobacco is grown in four provinces, namely, Nyanza (Migori, Kuria, Suba and Homa bay districts), Western (Bungoma, Busia, Teso and M ount Elgon districts), Central (Kirinyaga, Muranga, and Thik a districts) and Eastern (Meru, Kitui and Machakos districts). However, 80% of the country's tobacco production comes from South Nyanza region (mainly in Kuria, Migori and Homa bay districts). This research project was carried out in the above four (4) district s of South Nyanza regi on. The overall goal was the investigation of the sust ainability of traditional an d modern household livelihood strategies of tobacco farmers and how they would be diversified through the introduction of bamboo as an alternative crop to tobacco production in the region. This research has attempted to go into consid erable depth in its objectives to promote local enforcement of the Framework Conve ntion on Tobacco …