MST-Department of Environmental Education
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Browsing MST-Department of Environmental Education by Subject "Climate Variability"
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Item Climate Variability Effects on Vector-Borne Livestock Diseases in Narok South Sub-County, Narok County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2021) Onyango, Kennedy Bwire; Cecilia M. Gichuki; Evelyne WemaliVariability in climate has in recent decades caused adverse impacts on natural and human systems all over the world. Based on the most recent available projections, Kenya will be severely threatened by the direct and indirect impact of climate variability, most of which is likely to accelerate in the coming decades. When such calamities occur, the livelihood of pastoral communities is negatively affected and their economies dwindle mainly because of loss of livestock which is their main source of income. The study assessed the effect of climate variability and the associated vector-borne diseases on livestock in Narok South Sub-County from 1980 to 2010. The study period was associated with high prevalence of vector-borne diseases hence the need to understand the cause and impacts. Objectives of the study were: to analyse the trends of droughts and floods in Narok County; to assess the relationship between rainfall patterns and vector-borne livestock diseases and to analyse the perceived impacts of climate variability by pastoral communities in Narok South Sub-County from 1980 to 2010. The study worked with the hypothesis that the cases of selected vector-borne diseases had no significant relationship with rainfall patterns over the study period. It adopted a descriptive research design and used stratified random sampling; Stratum 1 comprised of Segamian, Sagoo, Melelo and Ololunga Wards that are agro-pastoral zones and stratum 2, comprised of Loita and Maji moto Wards that are mainly pastoral zones. Structured questionnaires were administered to 397 households while 36 key informants from relevant institutions were interviewed. Data was statistically analysed and the correlation results showed that other than Heartwater (p= 0.402), r=0.011 and N=38), other vector-borne diseases had a weak relationship with the amount of rainfall received. Nonetheless, there was some small relationship between graphical plots with cases of diseases either decreasing or increasing with corresponding decrease or increase of rainfall. According to the Chi-square analysis, there was a strong statistically significant difference between the two strata on the impact of floods and rainfall (floods: χ2= 24.902, df=3, p=0.000 and rainfall χ2=41.230, df= 3, p=0.000). The study revealed an increase in cases of most of the vector-borne diseases over the study period and attributes the increase to climate variability. The study recommends that development institutions should partner with the county and national government to create awareness on climate variability, build capacity to appropriate adaptation interventions and put in place contingency plans to enhance pastoral communities’ preparedness for the reoccurrence of the excessively heavy rainfall and droughts. Integration of indigenous knowledge in development of policies and institutional frameworks is also recommended.Item Effects of Climate Variability on Rural Road Infrastructure and Greenleaf Transportation in Kericho County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2021) Koech, Nancy Chemutai; James K. Koske; Sammy LetemaClimate variability is a global phenomenon that is posing threat to roads infrastructure in agricultural sector. Like other parts of the world, African region is said to be vulnerable due to its geographical location and low adaptive capacity. Road infrastructure in Kenya has deteriorated due to varying temperatures and rainfall patterns. Intense precipitation may cause flooding and result to damage in road infrastructure. However, research on climate variability and how it affects rural road infrastructure received relatively less attention in research. Kericho County rainfall ranges from 1800mm to 2700mm, and temperature ranging from 17 ºC to 19 ºC which impacts on rural road infrastructure. Its effects have been manifested through frequent damage to rural roads. The study sought to examine rainfall and temperature trends in the county in the period 1989 to 2019. It also determined the extent to which climate variability has affected rural roads used for tea transport. It also assessed tea farmer’s perception on climate variability effects on rural roads infrastructure and greenleaf transportation. By use of Yamane’s 1967 formula, 398 farmers were obtained. Tea farmers were randomly selected and questionnaires administered. Structured interview was administered transport managers. In order to understand budgets and expenditures, a separate interview was administered to managers of Tea Board of Kenya. Data was statistically analyzed (p<0.05). Rainfall and temperature data from 1989 to 2019 was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department to determine rainfall and temperature variability. Results showed that there was significant variation annual rainfall (p<0.005). There was a varsity variation in mean maximum temperatures (p꞊ 0.009), and mean minimum temperature (p꞊ 0.000). Linear regression analysis showed rainfall had slightly increased (y ꞊ 2.5476x - 40.778) and temperature had significantly increased (y ꞊ 0.028x - 0.4473). Pearson product moment of correlation showed weak positive correlations between the rainfall amounts and cost of repairs and maintenances for Momul (r ꞊122, p ꞊ 0.691), Tegat (r ꞊ +.029, p꞊ .936), Litein (r ꞊.255, p ꞊ .449) and Tebesonik (r ꞊.046, p ꞊.922). However, Toror was negatively correlated (r ꞊-.261, p ꞊.466). This implies that as cost of repairs decrease, green-leaf amounts tend to increase (p꞊ 0.000). The study found that climate significantly varied between 1989-2019. Heavy rains occur periodically that damage rural tea roads thus impacting negatively on tea transportation. Rural roads should continuously be maintained to address uncertainties. There is need, therefore, for heavy investment of emergency funds for repair and maintenance of rural tea roads based on climate variability and heavy rain return period pattern. A comparative study should be done in other counties to understand climate variability on rural road infrastructure within those counties.Item Impacts of Climate Variability on the Outbreak and Spread of Newcastle Disease in Poultry Farming in Kisii County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2022) Sese, Henry Hodgeb Maringo; Cecilia GichukiNewcastle disease is an infection of domestic poultry and other bird species caused by Avian Paramyxovirus Type 1 virus. A highly contagious and often-severe disease that occurs globally and causes devastating losses in both commercial and village chickens. The study sought to examine the impact of climate variability on the outbreak and spread of the Newcastle disease in Kisii County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were: to examine how climate has varied between 1990 and 2019 in Kitutu Chache South Constituency; establish farmers’ perception of the effects of climate variability on Free Range Indigenous Chicken in Kitutu Chache South; examine the relationship between climate variability and the occurrence of Newcastle disease as well as to assess the socio-economic costs of Newcastle disease on poultry farmers. Descriptive survey study design was selected and it included both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The research study targeted poultry farmers; thus, sampling size was determined to be 500 farmers and 10 Key informants from the County Departments. The research used simple random and purposive sampling methods. Primary data was collected from poultry farmers using questionnaires, and secondary data was collected from Kisii Meteorological Services from 1990-2019. The primary data was analyzed in STATA-14 and SPSS-20 using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s Correlation, and Linear regression models. Cronbach’s Alpha formula, weighted mean, and chi-square were used to identify farmers’ perceptions within six items. Secondary data was analyzed in R-Studio using the Mann-Kendall trend test with Sense slope estimators to determine trends in climatic variability. The results showed a significant increase in minimum and maximum temperatures at (p < 0.05); and a decreasing trend in the mean amount of rainfall. This study confirmed that poultry farmers from Kitutu Chache South were significantly aware of climate variability and its effects on chicken production (Ẍ2 = 68.17; df =5; p = 0.000) with Cronbach’s Alpha (α) of 0.712, which showed reliable consistency within the items. There was a significant and robust relationship between climatic variables and chicken death due to the Newcastle Disease virus (p < 0.001). It was determined that climate factors influence chicken productivity, and a slight change of climate variables could lead to an average loss of about KES.236.78 per chicken. The results further showed that poultry farmers are adapting strategic measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as vaccination, using the herbal medication, and consuming and selling chicken before infection. These adaptation strategies were found to be statistically increasing chicken productivity (p <0.05) with a marginal probability range of 1.4% to 27.3%. However, farmers are constrained by challenges such as inadequate funds, inadequate extension services, and erratic prediction of the seasonality of the Newcastle Disease outbreak. Therefore, from the study findings, the study recommends that the County and the National governments harmonize climate issues when drafting policies on Newcastle Disease.