RP-Department of Environmental Education

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Browsing RP-Department of Environmental Education by Subject "Climate variability"

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    Adaptation Mechanisms and Coping Strategies to the Effects of Climate Variability on Maize Yield with Focus on Matungulu West, Machakos County Kenya
    (Finlogy, 2017) Mabonga, E.S.; Manguriu, D.G.; Kerich, R.; Nakokonya, G.M.
    Climate variability is a phenomenal challenge to the citizens of the globe. It is noticeable from many documented studies that climate variability is taking place at an alarming rate. The globe has been experiencing an increase in temperature of approximately ≈ 0.20 C after every ten years for the last three decades. It is also established that rainfall increased significantly from 1900 to the 1950 then dropped from 1970 to present. The total sum of such extremes is a terribly affected livelihood in particular those living below the dollar. However, farmers in Matungulu West, in Machakos County Kenya have established their own measures and strategies to address the effects posed by climate variability. That informed the main objective of this study which was To determine adaptation measures and coping strategies being practiced by households in Matungulu West in Machakos County Kenya in addressing climate variability. A structured questionnaire which was developed and pre-tested was used to interview 380 randomly selected household heads to elicit information. Findings of the study indicate that most (52.2%) of the farmers have reduced or spread risks by replanting with early maturing maize, (26.4%) staggering planting dates, (2.9%) changing crops when replanting, (6.6%) grazing of failed parcels of land and (11.9%) carrying out varietal selection of stress resistant to suit the prevailing conditions. It was established further that (64.8%) of the respondents preferred early sowing as an adaptation option while (1.4%) indicated that they were practicing irrigation farming to combat climate variability. This study made a conclusion that there is a broad range of contrasting diversification strategies employed between different types of households headed by either females or males with the ownership or lack of ownership of cattle being a key factor that cuts across household types and which provided considerable additional flexibility.
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    The Trend of Climate Variability Effects on Dairy Farming in Masaba North, Nyamira County Kenya
    (IISTE, 2016) Ngare, Innocent; Koech, Michael; Manguriu, Daniel; Gichuki, Cecilia; Karanja, Joseph
    The dairy-climate change dilemma in Kenya cannot be mistaken. However, extensive research into dairy farming and an understanding of the dynamics of climate variability effects is greatly lacking.The study investigated the effects of climate variability on dairy cattle breeds in Masaba North, Kenya. The objective for the study were to determine the trend of climate variability and its effects on dairy farming. During the study two sampling techniques were used; purposive and systematic sampling that captured key informants and household information respectively with a targeted sample size of 100 respondents. Further, the findings obtained were analyzed through Statistical Package of Social Sciences and Excel. Data was presented in tables, graphs and pie charts. The findings showed that temperature had rose by 0.80 C in the past 30 years with anomalies of rainfall across the years indicating variability effect in the area. From the study, 89% of farmers respondent on effect of climate variability to dairy cattle. The integral recommendations were; improve dairy cattle performance through adoption of modern livestock techniques and harnessing immediate farmers’ education to mitigate climate variability effects.