MST-Department of Environmental Studies and Community Development

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Browsing MST-Department of Environmental Studies and Community Development by Author "Gichuki, Cecilia Muringo"

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    Impact of Climate Variability on Food Security in Gachoka Constituency in Mbeere District, Embu County, Kenya
    (2014-03-10) Mwaniki, Paul Ireri; Koske, James K.A.; Gichuki, Cecilia Muringo
    Climate change has become one of the most pressing issues facing Kenya. Warming temperatures and decreasing precipitation levels over the last 30 years have led to innumerable weather anomalies causing droughts, floods, unseasonal precipitation, falling ground water tables, all impacting on food production. While it is projected that further change in climatic conditions will take place over the coming decades, the impacts of these environmental stresses on the living conditions and livelihoods of Kenyans have already been significant and adverse. Among all population groups, rural communities in Kenya are particularly more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their strong dependence on rain fed agriculture for living. This research was carried out in Gachoka constituency, Embu County in Kenya. It focused on assessing the impact of climate variability on food security. The specific objective of this study was to analyze the effects of climate variability on quantity of food harvests at household level in Gachoka constituency, assessed the role of knowledge on climate variability impacts on food security in Gachoka constituency and identified the climate variability information needs by peasant farmers in Gachoka constituency between 1982 and 2012. Descriptive research design was employed. Simple random sampling was used to select 70 farmers and purposeful sampling to select 20 agricultural officers and 10 religious leaders. A total of 100 respondents were interviewed. The data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and excel to generate frequencies, tables, pie charts, graphs, percentages and moving averages. The finding shows that there is significant relationship between food harvest and climate variability ():2=62.234, P- value= 0.002, df=1 and n=100) and thus climate variability caused low food harvests at household level in Gachoka constituency. The study also revealed that there was significant relationship between Knowledge on climate variability and food security, (t=43.741, p, value= 0.253, df =2 and n=IOO) and therefore Knowledge on climate variability among small scale farmers threatened food security in Gachoka Constituency. The results further shows that, there was a high need for climate variability information and food security among the community in Gachoka Constituency, (t=24.324, p, value= 0.003, df =1 and n=IOO). The study therefore recommended that more information on climate variability to be availed to the farmers in order to prepare them on how to mitigate and prepare for climate variability thus ensuring sustainable food production. Farmers should also consider planting drought resistant crops to ensure stable food supply and reduced dependency on relief foods. Further the findings would also help in formulating policies and establishing practices in mitigating the impacts of climate variability in the country in order to ensure the country is food secure. The study suggested for further research on the best strategies on reducing subsistence farmers' vulnerability to climate change as well as mitigating impacts of climate change on indigenous food security in rural communities.
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    Impacts of Kipepeo Conservation Project on Livelihoods and Climate Change Mitigations among Arabuko Sokoke Communities, Kilifi County, Kenya
    (2014-03-10) Okeyo, Rodah Owako; Muriuki, J.; Gichuki, Cecilia Muringo
    Conservation projects can improve the livelihoods of community members as well as tackle climate change. Kipepeo project is a butterfly farming project initiated in 1993 to provide a means of livelihood for the communities living around Arabuko Sokoke Forest and also to conserve the forest. The study was carried out to assess the impacts of Kipepeo conservation project on livelihoods of local community and on climate change mitigations in Arabuko Sokoke Forest in Kilifi County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to evaluate the ongoing conservation activities related to the Kipepeo project, to establish the existing socio economic conditions in the project area, to assess the contribution of the Kipepeo project towards climate change mitigation and to assess the impacts of the project on the livelihoods of the local communities living around the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. A descriptive survey design was adopted in which 46 randomly selected respondents were drawn from 110 households participating in the Kipepeo project. Two key informant interviews with Kipepeo staff were also completed. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data on socio economic conditions of the Kipepeo project area as well as incomes obtained from participation in the Kipepeo project. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables and charts. Results from the study showed that the Kipepeo project through rearing of butterflies has led to conservation activities among majority of the local community (70%) who practice tree planting which contributes to climate change mitigation. The study also showed that the income levels of the respondents had increased with 72% of them. earning between Ksh 6000-10000 per month compared to 4% earning same amount before joining the project implying a significant increase in income. (n=46, s=188.27). Results also show that there is a positive correlation between income from butterfly farming and contribution to school fees paid for respondents children. (p=0.539, n=35, r=0.109). Majority (100%) of the respondents were aware of the importance of conservation and felt that the ASF is very important and should be conserved. (X2=198.25, n=46, df=2, p=0.000). The study concluded that the Kipepeo project is incentive driven and helped to link livelihoods, conservation and climate change mitigation and recommends further research on other insect species that can be reared by communities to earn them income in order to improve their livelihoods while encouraging conservation.