Economic and nutritional conditions at settlement schemes in Coast Province

This report is concerned with land distribution and rural development and presents the final results of a survey carried out in 1985-1986 in four settlement schemes: Diani and Ukunda in Kwale District and Roka and Mtwapa in Kilifi District, Coast Province, Kenya. In each scheme 100 households were visited and information collected regarding small farm characteristics, off-farm employment, socioeconomic differentiation between households, food consumption and nutritional status. Data from a companion survey among the general population were available for comparison purposes. It was found that food crop production, mostly maize and cassava, covers only 60 percent of the staple food requirements. In all schemes, off-farm employment plays an important role and total household income consists for two thirds of employment income. The variation in income and income composition is large. Scheme households, on average, have a higher food energy consumption than the general population as well as a greater variation in diet. As regards nutritional status, there are significant differences between schemes and general population in respect of height-for-age of children. There is no traceable influence of individual schemes as such on the nutritional status of children. It is concluded that from the point of view of regional agricultural development the results of government settlement policy are far from optimal, but that from the point of view of the settler households the schemes are quite prosperous