Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation to Climate Variability in Nandi County, Kenya
Keywords:
Adaptation, Climate Variability, Farmers’ Perception, Mitigation
Abstract
Climate variability impacts environment social and economic growth. Much of these effects are felt by smallholder farmers whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. However, smallholder farmers have limited knowledge to link anticipated climate variability impacts at the local levels. In this study, farmers’ perception and level of awareness about climate variability and how it impacts smallholder dairy farming was analyzed. A total of 350 smallholder dairy farmers from eight sub-locations of Aldai Sub-County, Nandi County, Kenya were interviewed and compared farmer’s perceptions about climate variability with trends from Meteorological Data. Analysis was done using a multivariate Probit regression model. Results showed that, on average, temperatures were rising, and this rise was more prominent during the short rainy seasons. Given the rising trends in temperature, the respondents above 50 years were asked to compare the current weather conditions with those observed in the last 32 years ago (i.e., from January 1980 to December 2012) as a way of measuring their perception about climate variability. The majority (70%) of smallholder farmers identified drastic changes in temperature patterns. Only 38.12% with at least one year of farming experience were able to note the rise in temperature levels. These results indicate that smallholder farmers who are considered to have limited information about climate variability were more likely to perceive changes in weather patterns. In conclusion, we found that access to extension services, type of land tenure, and access to credit facilities are important in enhancing the adaptive capacity of farmers.
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Abbas, Q., Han, J., Adel, A. & Ullah, R. (2009). Dairy Production under Climatic Risks: Perception, Perceived Impacts and Adaptations in Punjab, Pakistan. International
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019 Oct; 16(20): 4036.
Belliveau, S., Smit, B., & Bradshaw, B. (2006). Multiple exposures and dynamic vulnerability: evidence from the grape industry in the Okanagan Valley, Canada. Global Environmental Change, 16(4), 364-378.
Blummel, M., Iain, A,. & Hedge, N. (2010). Climate change impacts on livestock production and adaptation strategies: A global scenario. Proceedings of national symposium on climate change and rainfed agriculture, 18-20 february 2010, Central Research Insitute for Dryland Agricultrure (CRIDA), Hyderabad, India.
Bruckner, G. (2008). Climate Change: A treat for animal health. Retrieved from http://www.sustainabledairyfarming.com
Craine, J. M., Elmore, A. J., Olsen, K.C. & Tolleson, D. (2010). Climate variability and cattle nutritional stress. Global Variability Biology, 16(10); 290-311.
Easterling, D.R., Meehl, G.A., Parmesan, C., Changnon, S.A. & Mearns, L.O. (2000). Climate extremes: observations, modeling and impacts. Science, 2000 Sep 22; 289(5,487): 2,068-2,074. DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5487.2068.
Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO). (2006). Breed diverssity in dryland ecosystems. FAO, Rome, Italy.
Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO). (2009). Coping with a changing climate: considerations for adaptation and mitigaion in agriculture. FAO, Rome, Italy.
Food and Agriculture Organization, (FAO). (2009). The linkages with sustainability, food security and climate change impacts. FAO, Rome, Italy.
GoK. (2009). Kisii Central District Development Plan. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Hiernaux, P., Diarra, L., Trichon, V., Mougin, E., Soumaguel, N. & Baup, F. (2009). Woody plant population dynamics in response to climate variabiltiy from 1984-2006 in Sahel. Journal of Hydrology, 375(2009) 114-127.
Howley, P., Cathal, O. D., & Heanue, K. (2012). Factors Affecting Farmers Adoption of Agricultural Innovations:A Panel Data Analysis of the Use of Artificial Insemination among Dairy Farmers in Ireland. Journal of Agricultural Science, 4(6), 171-179.
International Labor Organization (2020).
Intergovernmental Pannel on Climate Change(IPCC), (2007). Climate change 2001: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: Intergovernmental pannel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, 22(2002)1285 – 1286. Print.
Intergovernmental Pannel on Climate Change(IPCC), (2014). Climate change 2014: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: Global and sectoral aspects, Contributions of working group. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Print.
Jones, L., Lundi, E., & Levine, S. (2010). Towards a Characterization of Adaptive Capacity: A Framework for Analyzing Adaptive Capacity at the Local Level. Overseas Development Institute, UK.
Kalungu, J. W., & Harris, D. (2013). Smallholder farmers’ perception of the impacts of climate change and variability on rain-fed agricultural practices in semi-arid and sub-humid regions of Kenya. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 3(7), 129-140.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). (2019a). Economic Survey, 2019. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Nairobi, Kenya.
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.
Mironga, J. M. (2005). Effect of farming practices on wetlands of Kisii District, Kenya. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 3(2), 81-91.
Mpandeli, N. S., & Maponya, P. I. (2013). Coping with climate variability in Limpopo province, South Africa. Peak J. Agric. Sci, 1(4), 54-64.
Murage, F. M., Mugwe, J. N., Ngetich, K. F., Mucheru-Muna, M. M., & Mugendi, D. N. (2019). Adoption of soybean by smallholder farmers in the Central Highlands of
Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, 7(5), 1-12.
Murgor, K. T., Keter, K. J., & Changa’ch, J. K. (2014). Accessibility of technical and vocational training among disabled people: Survey of TVET institutions in North rift region, Kenya.
Nardone, A., Lacetera, N., Ranieri, M. & Bernabucci, U. (2010). Effects of climate viability on animal production and sustainability of livestock systems. Livestock Sciences Jounal , 130(4); pp. 57-69.
Nega D, Mohammed C, Bridle K, Corkrey R., & McNeil D (2015) Perception of climate change and its impact by smallholders in pastoral/agropastoral systems of Borana. South Ethiopia. SpringerPlus 4(1):236
Ngeno, K., Omasaki, S., & Babe, B. (2013). Assessment of the Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Variability and Change of the Bos taurus Dairy
Genotypes under Diverse Production Environments in Kenya. Journal of Veterinary Advances, 3(7), 186-196
Obayelu, O. A., Adepoju, A. O., & Idowu, T. (2014). Factors influencing farmers’ choices of adaptation to climate change in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID), 108(1), 3-16
Okello, D., Owuor, G., Larochelle, C., Gathungu, E., & Mshenga, P. (2021). Determinants of utilization of agricultural technologies among smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 6(September), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2021.100213
Okuthe, I., Kioli, F., & Abuom, P. (2013). Socio Cultural Determinants of the Adoption of Intergrated Natural Resource Management Technologies by Small Scale Famers in Ndhiwa Division, Kenya. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, 5(6), 203-218.
Orindi, V., Nyong, A., & Herrero, M. (2007). Pastoral livelihood adaptation to drought and insitutional interventions in Kenya. Human deveopment report office, Nairobi, Kenya.
Shongwe, P., Masuku, M. B., & Manyatsi, A. M. (2014). Factors influencing the choice of climate change adaptation strategies by households: a case of Mpolonjeni Area Development Programme (ADP) in Swaziland. Journal of Agricultural Studies, 2(1), 86-98.
Solomon, D. S., & Rao, N. (2021). Wells and well-being in South India1: Gender dimensions of groundwater dependence. In Engendering Climate Change (pp. 127-151). Routledge India.
Thornton, P., Van, D., Notenbaert, A., & Herrero, M. (2009). The impacts of climate change on livestock and livestock systems in developing countries. Journal of Agricultural Systems, 101(3); 113-27. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2009.05.002
UNDP. (2011). Development of Short Term Training Modules to Respond to Selected Skills Gaps for Agribusiness. Retrieved March 28, 2016.Available at: www. ke. undp.org.
Wemali, E. N. C. (2014). Contribution of cultivated African indigenous vegetables to agro-biodiversity conservation and community livelihood in Mumias sugar belt, Kenya. Unpublished PhD Theses, Kenyatta University. Kenya.
Zagst, L., (2011). Socio-ecomomic survey of the East African Dairy Development Project/Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture program: pilot project in Kaptumo. Nairobi: Kenya FAO.
Published
2023-04-07
How to Cite
K., O., & N., M. (2023, April 7). Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation to Climate Variability in Nandi County, Kenya. African Journal of Education,Science and Technology, 7(3), Pg 87-99. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2022/ajest.v7i3.876
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