RP-School of Environmental Studies

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Browsing RP-School of Environmental Studies by Subject "Adaptation"

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    Climate Variability Adaptation Strategies used by Small-Scale Maize Farmers in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
    (EANSO, 2023) Busolo, Temina Arivitsa; Koech, Michael K.; Wemali, Evelyn
    The agricultural industry is threatened by climate variability due to its overreliance on climatic conditions. Maize production faces similar threats due to its sensitivity to climate variations and changes in weather patterns, specifically rainfall and temperature. Increased temperatures, rainfall variability, and heightened frequency of climate extremes, such as long periods of drought, were found to have a significant impact on Kenya’s maize production. This study therefore sought to identify climate variability adaptation strategies used by small-scale maize farmers in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, to curb the effects of climate variability on maize yield. The study adopted a descriptive survey design where questionnaires were administered to 394 household heads. The results show some farmers chose different adaptation strategies to lessen the impact of climate variability on maize yield, while others stuck to their original methods of farming. Changing crop varieties and changing planting dates were the highly opted-for adaptation strategies, while dry planting, irrigation farming, planting drought-tolerant crops and soil moisture conservation techniques were the least opted-for adaptation strategies. Socioeconomic factors such as land size, education level, age, gender and marital status had a strong influence on the choice of utilisation of various adaptation strategies. So as to curb the adverse outcomes of climate variability and empower small-scale maize farmers, the study recommended proper education on diverse adaptation methods, access to accurate climate data for proper adjustment to planting dates, sensitization on different crop varieties as well as access to financial resources to promote practices like irrigation farming.
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    Ecosystem services in adaptation projects in West Africa
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 2017) Muthee, Kennedy Wahome; Mbow, Cheikh; Macharia, Geoffrey Mugo; Leal-Filho, Walter
    Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which adaptation projects have incorporated ecosystem services, as well as their redesigning options. The projects selected are listed under National Adaptation Programme of Action in West African region. Design/methodology/approach – A desktop survey approach was used to review 168 projects from 13 countries across West Africa. The projects were categorized and analyzed according to their adaptation goal, thematic focus, their implementation duration and level of investment. Findings – The adaptation initiatives are dominated by actions in the agricultural sector accounting for 32 per cent of the total. Further, they were characterized by small grants consideration with 63 per cent falling under US$1m budget, short-term implementation duration with 46 per cent having three years’ execution period. A large portion of projects (55 per cent) mentioned directly one or more ecosystem services, with provisioning services being referred to in 50 per cent of the cases. Originality/value – Adaptation projects with ecosystem services components are more sustainable and beneficial to the community. Hence, more consideration of nature benefits during project design, more financial consideration and localizing of the projects to realize the global adaptation goal should be considered.
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    Enhancing adaptation to climate variability in the East African highlands: a case for fostering collective action among smallholder farmers in Kenya and Uganda
    (Taylor & Francis, 2016) Ombogoh, D.B.; Tanui, J.; McMullin, S.; Muriuki, J.; Mowo, J.
    There is an increasing recognition of the role of climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers in rain-fed agriculture in Africa. Collective action among smallholder farmers has been suggested as influencing local adaptation processes hence the need to evaluate its impact in different contexts. This paper provides evidence of collective action in enhancing local adaptation to climate variability. It determines the importance of different forms of collective action for enhancing adaptation. Through simple random sampling, a survey of 240 households in Embu County in Kenya and 200 households from Kapchorwa district of Uganda was undertaken. Focus-group discussions involving farmer groups and local government representatives were performed to triangulate information collected through the surveys. The results show a positive relationship between membership in farmer groups and adaptation to climate variability in both sites. Four main components of collective action were identified in Embu and these included the development of internal group capacities, assets mobilization and management, collective marketing, and management of human and natural capital. In Kapchorwa, the development of internal group capacities, risk spreading, and financial resources were significant. We argue that local-level governance and institutional arrangements for collective action are critical for successful adaptation to climate variability.
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    Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies to Drought and Erratic Rains as Key Extreme Events: Insights from Small Scale Farming Households in Mixed Crop Agro Ecosystems of Semi-Arid Eastern Kenya
    (academic journals, 2019-04-11) Mwenda, Pius; Kungu, James; Kiambi, D.K; Gevel, Jeske van de
    Climate variability and change are some of the most pressing environmental challenges in semi-arid Kenya and Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and are associated with persistent droughts, dry spells and erratic rains. The present study aimed at determining exposure and adaptation mechanisms among selected small-scale farmers cultivating drought tolerant crops in Wote, Makueni County, Eastern Kenya in the period 2003 to 2013. The sampled 120 farmers cultivate sorghum, cow peas and pigeon peas, which are some of the dominant multipurpose crops. Data collection methods included the use of semi-structured questionnaires. Results indicated that household level vulnerability was caused by exposure to extreme events: Drought (100%) and erratic rains (59%). Key drought adaptation means were drought resistant crops, 65%; terracing, 28%; and crop diversification, 13%. A multiple regression model, R 2 =0.319, indicated that age, gender and land size influenced adaptation choices significantly <0.05=0.027, 0.043 and 0.011, respectively. The results reveal prevailing exposure to extreme events at household level and further existing influence of responses by household social characteristics. From the results, the study mainly recommends adoption of alternative income activities, including on farm value addition, coupling of indigenous and modern adaptation mechanisms and provision of comprehensive climate information services.