Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adaptations to Climate Change and Variability in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kitui and Kajiado Counties, Kenya
Abstract
A study was conducted in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kitui and Kajiado counties to determine factors that influence farmers’ adaptation to climate change and variability. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied in the study to gain insights into the adaptation strategies used by farmers to cope with climate change and variability and factors that influence their adoption. A mix of purposeful and multistage stratified random sampling methods were used to select households which formed the unit of analysis in the study. Results of the Chi-square test for independence indicated that there was an association between the adoption of different adaptation strategies to climate change and variability and the study sites (p< 0.05). In addition, scrutiny of the results of logistic regression analysis showed that gender, education level, farming experience, age, and county of the respondent significantly (p<0.05) influenced the adoption of adaptation strategies to climate variability and extremes in the study area. The study identified the need for increased agricultural extension training and sensitisation on climate change among farmers to ensure that feasible adaptation strategies are promoted and factors influencing their adoption are leveraged
Downloads
References
Acquah-de, G. H., & Onumah, E. (2011). Farmers’ perceptions and adaptations to climate change: An estimation of willingness to pay. Agris, 3, 31 39.
Chema, S., Gilbert, E., & Roseboom, J. (2002). A critical review of key issues and recent experiences in reforming agricultural research in Africa. In: Draft Working Paper. The Hague: ISNAR; 2002
FAO. (2018). Irrigation in Africa in figures: AQUASTAT survey 2005. Rome, Italy: FAO.
Government of Kajiado (2013). Kajiado County integrated development plan, 2013-2017
Government of Kenya (2016). Kenya national adaptation plan. Government Printer, Nairobi, Kenya
Government of Kitui (2013). Kitui County integrated development plan, 2013-2017
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). (2007). Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report—Summary for Policymakers. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, Contributions of Working Groups I, II, and III. IPCC: Geneva, Switzerland, 2007.
IPCC, 2021: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Masson-Delmotte, V., P.
Juana, J. S., Zibanani, K., & Okurut, F. N. (2013). Farmers’ perceptions and adaptations to climate change in Sub-Sahara Africa: A synthesis of empirical studies and implications for public policy in African agriculture. J. Agricult. Sci., 5, 121-135.
Kamau, M. W., Ndung’u, C. K., & Muriu Ng’ang’a, F. W. (2020). Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adaptations to Climate Variability and Extreme Events in Dry Kitui, Kenya. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res, 24 (1), 1-10.
Maddison, D. (2006). The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa. CEEPA discussion paper no. 10. Centre for environmental economics and policy in Africa, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Mudzengi, C. P., Dahwa, E., & Kapembeza, C. S. (2020). Livestock feeds and feeding in semi-arid areas of Southern Africa. Intech Open, Open Acess Books.
Mutunga, E. J., Ndungu, C. K., & Muendo, P. (2018). Factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate variability in Kitui County, Kenya. International Journal of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, 8(5), 01-07.
Ndungu, C. K., & Bhardwaj S.K. (2015). Assessment of people’s perceptions and adaptations to climate change and variability in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 4: 11-18
Nhemachena, C., & Hassan, R. (2007). Microlevel analysis of farmers’ adaptations to climate change in Southern Africa. IFPRI, Environment and Production Technology Division, Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute
Okonya, J. S., Katja, S., & Jürgen, K. (2013). Farmers’ perception of and coping strategies to climate change: Evidence from six agro-ecological zones of Uganda. J. Agricult. Sci., 5, 253 263
Pretty, J. (2003). Social capital and connectedness: Issues and implications for agriculture, rural development and natural resource management in ACP countries. Review Paper for CTA. CTA Working Document Number 8032.
Tekelwold, H., Dadi, L., Yami, A., & Dana, N. (2006). Determinants of adoption of poultry technology: A double-hurdle approach. Livestock Res. Rural Dev., 18, 101-120.
Tizale, C. Y. (2007). The dynamics of soil degradation and incentives for optimal management in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia (PhD Thesis. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria; Pretoria, South Africa).
Quandt, A. (2021). Coping with drought: Narratives from smallholder farmers in semi-arid Kenya. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 57, 102168
Copyright (c) 2023 Charles Kimani Ndungu, PhD, Moses Njuguna Mwangi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
