Purchasing Practices and Food Security among African Indigenous Vegetable Farmers in Nyanza Region, Kenya

Abstract

Food insecurity remains a major concern among smallholder farming households in Kenya despite continued efforts to increase agricultural productivity and improve rural livelihoods. Previous studies have mainly linked household food security to factors such as farm production, income levels, access to extension services, land ownership, and the adoption of improved technologies. However, little attention has been given to the role of farmers’ purchasing decisions and input sourcing practices. In addition, theories widely used in purchasing and supply chain management, including Value Chain Theory, Transaction Cost Theory, the Relational View, Social Embeddedness Theory, and Institutional Theory, have rarely been applied to explain food security outcomes among smallholder farmers. This study addresses this gap by examining how purchasing practices influence food security among African Indigenous Vegetable (AIV) farmers in the Nyanza region of Kenya. A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed, and primary data were collected from 430 AIV farmers selected through stratified random sampling across six counties. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression techniques. The findings showed that purchasing practices were positively and significantly associated with household food security (R² = 0.326, F (8,421) = 25.43, p < 0.001). Collaboration with input suppliers and other value chain actors had the strongest positive association with food security (β = 0.237, p < 0.001), followed by aligning purchases with consumer preferences (β = 0.205, p < 0.001) and input supplier selection (β = 0.192, p < 0.001). Household income, farming experience, and monthly sales also had significant positive relationships with food security. This study contributes to the literature by integrating insights from food security and supply chain management and by recognising smallholder farmers as active purchasing decision-makers whose sourcing choices influence production, market participation, and household well-being. The findings highlight the importance of strong relationships within indigenous vegetable value chains in improving food security outcomes. Strengthening partnerships between farmers and input suppliers, promoting collaborative marketing, improving access to market information, and investing in aggregation centres and cold storage facilities could enhance the efficiency and resilience of indigenous vegetable markets. Farmers can further improve household food security by building long-term supplier relationships, responding to consumer preferences, and adopting more strategic purchasing practices. Key words: African Indigenous Vegetable Farmers, Food Security. Purchasing Practices, Kenya