\documentclass[english,german]{scrartcl}
\usepackage[latin1]{inputenc}
\usepackage{geometry}
\geometry{verbose,a4paper,tmargin=1.75cm,bmargin=2cm,lmargin=2cm,rmargin=2cm,headheight=0.8cm,headsep=0.5cm,footskip=0.5cm}
\usepackage{babel}
\usepackage{url}
\urlstyle{same}
\newcommand\email{\begingroup \urlstyle{same}\Url}\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{units}
\usepackage{tabularx}
\usepackage{wasysym} % enable use of \permil instead of \textperthousand
\usepackage{marvosym}
\usepackage{arabtex}
\usepackage{hyphenat}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{mdwlist}
\renewcommand{\thefootnote}{\relax}
\usepackage{index}
\newindex{key}{kdx}{knd}{Keywords}
\newindex{author}{idx}{ind}{Authors}
\usepackage{fancyhdr}
\pagestyle{fancy}
\renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt}
\fancyfoot{}
\usepackage{ifpdf}
\ifpdf
%\usepackage[activate]{pdfcprot}
%\usepackage[owner=Tapioka, print=true, copy=true, edit=false, annotate=false,set]{pdfcrypt}
%encryption: not supported any more (since pdftex 1.10)
\usepackage[pdftex]{thumbpdf}
\usepackage[pdftex]{hyperref}
\hypersetup{pdftitle={Common Interest Groups and their Contribution to Food Security among Small Holder Farmers in Kenya},pdfauthor={Judith Libaisi, Pamela Ayiera Marinda},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Common interest groups, Food Security, Kenya},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
\else
\usepackage{ae}
\usepackage{textcomp}
\fi
\begin{document}
\ifpdf
\parbox[b]{2.5cm}{\resizebox*{2.5cm}{!}{\includegraphics{dtt2010.jpg}}}
\else
\parbox[b]{2.5cm}{\resizebox*{2.5cm}{!}{\includegraphics{dtt2010.eps}}}
\fi
\hfill
\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
\hspace{0.1cm}
\begin{center}
\Large{\textbf{Common Interest Groups and their Contribution to Food Security among Small Holder Farmers in Kenya\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Pamela Ayiera Marinda, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 20617- 00100 Gpo, Nairobi, Kenya, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{ayiera@yahoo.co.uk}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Judith Libaisi$^{1}$, Pamela Ayiera Marinda$^{2}$}}
\end{center}
\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP, }}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya}}}
\end{itemize*}
\index[author]{Libaisi, Judith}
\index[author]{Marinda, Pamela Ayiera}
\begin{center}
\vspace{1.1cm}
\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
The realisation of development and smallholders' livelihood goals requires strategies to improve agricultural production through improved technologies. Through the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project (KAPP) these technologies have been disseminated to farmers through enterprise based common interest groups (CIGs). CIGs are enterprise based farmer groups formed after promotion of agricultural opportunities by extension service providers using posters. Farmers who choose a similar enterprise are said to have a common interest. 







The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of CIGs to food security among the smallholder farm households in Western Kenya. A cross sectional descriptive survey was carried out and data collected from a sample of one hundred CIG members, twenty non CIG members and twenty key informants. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules and analysis done using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences.







The study revealed that the promotional poster plays a role in formation and sustaining CIGs production objectives. Initial enrolment to CIGs was high having over 30 members but membership dropped over time. Majority of the CIGs on average had a membership of 10--30 members. Members of CIGs (\mbox{99\,\%}) have increased access to extension services than non CIG members and \mbox{88\,\%} of CIGS had future plan of activities. CIG members reported an increase in agricultural production as compared to the non CIG. More than three quarters (\mbox{89\,\%}) of CIG members realised increased production trend since joining the CIGs while production of \mbox{11\,\%} of the sampled members remained constant. Households with CIG membership were found to be more food secure than those without CIG membership.







Small holder farmers should be encouraged to join CIGs, since by being members they have and develop common interests that enable them to remove barriers to access to extension services, micro"=credit services, markets and technological progress. This in turn contributes to improved food security through increased food production and income. Signs of increased cooperation are evident between small holder farmers belonging to CIGs and private sector service providers in rural areas. To maintain membership, CIGs should participate in other socio economic activities related to food security. 



}

\vspace{0.5cm}
\end{abstract}
\end{center}
\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Common interest groups, Food Security, Kenya
\index[key]{Common interest groups}
\index[key]{Food!Security}
\index[key]{Kenya}
\end{document}