Influence of regulations, infrastructure and gender interactions along food corridors on food access in Kisumu city, Kenya

Abstract

Inefficiencies linked to regulations, infrastructure and gender interactions within food corridors serving urban areas have compromised urban food access; a key component of urban food security. Conversely, studies in African Agricultural Growth Corridors and Kenya link limited food access to volatile and fluctuating food prices. These and other studies have thus yielded conflicting results on the factors that influence food access, indicating the need for more studies especially in urban areas which can only produce 30% of their consumption, and where 68% of the world’s population will reside in 2050. The main objective of the study was therefore to determine the influence of regulations, infrastructure and gender on food access within the food corridors of Kisumu city. Specific objectives are: to establish how time taken to meet regulations within the food corridors affect food price in Kisumu city; to examine the influence of infrastructural costs within food corridors on Kisumu city’s food prices; to establish the significance of gender price gap for men and women operating within the food corridors of Kisumu city on food access. Access theory was employed to investigate the variables highlighted herein and which the theory refers to as mechanisms of access. The mechanisms of access as unbundled by the theory aided in framing the relationships that were investigated in the study. Cross-sectional research design was employed targeting a population of 7480 business persons from which a sample of 366 was drawn. This was proportionately distributed amongst business persons trading in food from Kisumu – Kitale, Kisumu – Meteitei and Kisumu – Kebenet food corridors. Categorical, nominal and quantitative data were collected through Semi-structured interviews, Focus Group Discussions and surveys. The study found a positive relationship between time taken to meet regulation and food price expressed by the equation y = 1641.9x + 12011. Additionally, costs of infrastructure due to; private storage and collection points as well as poor transition from major roads to minor roads in markets also led to added costs via head loading and carts. As such, the study finds that food prices increase in time with transportation costs as evidenced in regression analysis with a positive coefficient expressed by the equation y = 2.512194x + 18275.85. However, gender price gap is characterized by low food prices in female traders who dominate food trade thereby highlighting an opportunity for increasing food access. Significance of price differences between male and female traders was established through a chi square analysis at a P-value of = .0004. The study concludes that food security initiatives should be geared towards increasing efficiency in the flow of food from hinterland to urban areas through reduced travel time. To this effect, the study recommends standardization of regulations governing food flows to save on time lost and to reduce double payments as a way of mainstreaming efficiency. In addition, guidelines for development of infrastructure critical to the operations of food corridors should be drafted to standardize their provision for reduced costs of transactions. Finally, the study recommends, increment of asset control by female traders to stabilize their performance and presence in food markets for continued provision of lower food prices which is critical to food access. This is in tune with the Kenyan government policy objective to increase the quantity and quality of food available and accessible in order to ensure an adequate, diverse and healthy diet.