Animal Husbandry Agrarian Interventions and Food Security in Refugee Settlements in Uganda; A Case of Nakivale Refugee Settlement

Abstract

The study examined the effect of animal husbandry agrarian interventions on food security in refugee settlements in Uganda; a case of Nakivale Refugee Settlement. It specifically focused on; assessing the effects of animal husbandry agrarian interventions on food availability in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, assessing the effects of animal husbandry agrarian interventions on food accessibility in Nakivale Refugee Settlement and assessing the effects of animal husbandry agrarian interventions on food quality in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. The study was carried out using a cross sectional survey research design where both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were also used. The data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and observations and during data collection; both purposive and simple random sampling methods were used. A sample size of 400 respondents who are refugees in Nakivale Refugee Settlement and 7 key informants was also used in the study. The study findings revealed that animal husbandry agrarian interventions in Nakivale Refugee Settlement significantly improved food security by enhancing food availability, accessibility, and quality. Livestock distribution, improved breeds, veterinary services, training, and market-linkage programs increased year-round supply, dietary diversity, income generation, and safe, nutritious animal products. Pearson’s correlation confirmed strong positive relationships between these interventions and food outcomes: food availability (r = 0.656, p < 0.05), food accessibility (r = 0.623, p < 0.05), and food quality (r = 0.644, p < 0.05), demonstrating that strengthened animal husbandry programs directly bolster household and community-level food security. Finally, the study recommended the need for expanding livestock distribution and improved breeds, strengthening training in animal husbandry, enhancing veterinary services, promoting market-linkages for livestock products, and institutionalizing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to sustain livestock productivity, improve food quality and accessibility, increase household income, and ensure long-term food security in Nakivale Refugee Settlement.