Abstract

Land use changes are central to the sustenance of food security in the tropics. Government policy has been a major human aspect that has influenced changes in land use systems in most of the tropical countries.. However, the conflicting preferences for using land have posed a great threat to food production. The aim of the study was to predict the changes in land use systems and how they influence agricultural production in the tropics, which are often environmentally fragile. Estimating the changing aspects of land use systems lays bare the vital information to support decisions on land use and management planning with a view to promoting food security.

The study combined reviewing of existing literature and a case study in Kenya. The high agricultural potential areas were purposefully selected Environmental conservation and food insecurity trade-offs are bound to occur in the future. It is important for government policies to put into consideration the equilibrium between the conservation of land resource, improved agricultural production and the increasing urban growth.