This book examines the living conditions of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia, one of Kenya's large-scale farming districts. Based on a study conducted in 1989 among large farmers and farm labourers,... Show moreThis book examines the living conditions of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia, one of Kenya's large-scale farming districts. Based on a study conducted in 1989 among large farmers and farm labourers, an overview is given of wages, provisions, the various sources of income, the inportance of social networks and the nutritional status of different groups of farm labourers. From the data presented it appears that the extent to which households depend on the large farm owners for their livelihood largely determines their economic position. But the interdependency has its costs. The more the labourers' households are tied to the land of the farm owner for both income and own food production, the more difficulties they face in satisfying even their basic needs. Show less
This report is the first in a series dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. It examines two important aspects of the labourers' food... Show moreThis report is the first in a series dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. It examines two important aspects of the labourers' food and nutritional situation, i.e. the incomes they earn from their labour on the large farms and the extra provisions they enjoy. Data presented in the report were obtained during a survey of a stratified sample of 46 large farms in the district which was carried out in 1989 and which focused on the labour conditions on large farms. Questions were asked about the number of labourers, the wages the farm owners paid them, and the provisions they received, such as housing, sanitary facilities, medical services, a piece of land. Three categories of labourers were distinguished: permanent labourers, casual labourers, and resident casuals. The study shows that labour in Trans Nzoia was used in an exploitative manner by quite a number of employers. On average, the wages for both permanent and casual labourers were below the legal minimum. The labourers were also in a bad position legally. Although many casual labourers worked on a very regular basis on one and the same farm, it was difficult for them to obtain the status of permanent labourer. Moreover, the labourers living on the farms (the permanent labourers and the resident casuals) were faced with restrictions on land use and work outside the farms Show less
This is the final report in a series of four regarding household resources and nutrition of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. In the first three reports the findings of three surveys,... Show moreThis is the final report in a series of four regarding household resources and nutrition of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya. In the first three reports the findings of three surveys, carried out in 1989, were presented and discussed (Labour conditions on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, by D. Foeken and L. Verstrate; Household resources and nutrition of labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, by D. Foeken and N. Tellegen; and Income generation of farm labourers in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya: rural employment and social networks, by N. Tellegen, L. Verstrate and D. Foeken). The present report offers summaries of each of the studies (Chapters 2, 3 and 4, repectively). The final chapter gives an overview of the main findings as well as policy recommendations formulated during a dissemination seminar held in Kitale in November 1992 Show less
This report, the second in a series of three dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, examines the living conditions, household... Show moreThis report, the second in a series of three dealing with food supply and nutrition among labourers on large farms in Trans Nzoia District, Kenya, examines the living conditions, household resources, food consumption and nutritional situation in the labourers' households. The data were collected in June and July 1989 among some 300 households. Three types of labourers' households are distinguished, i.e. permanent labourers living on the large farms, casual labourers living on the farms ('resident casuals'), and casual labourers living outside the farms ('nonresident casuals'). For comparison a group of households was included in which nobody had performed any casual labour on a large farm during the year prior to the survey ('nonlabourers'). The results show that the households on the large farms have very little land at their disposal. In this respect, the situation of the nonresident casuals and in particular that of the nonlabourers is better. The households outside the farms are by far the wealthiest group. The average energy intake in the three groups of labourers' households is almost the same and 700 kcal lower than the estimated energy requirements. The nutritional condition of the children in the three groups of labourers' households is not very good. The study reveals that of the four study groups, the resident casuals can be considered the most vulnerable Show less
