Climate Variability on Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) Infestation in Tea Farms in Nandi County, Kenya
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Date
2025-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Climate change and variability continue to significantly impact agricultural production and management worldwide. From the literature, it is reported that there has been an unprecedented emergence of pests and diseases associated with climate change and variability among other factors. In Kenya, crop cultivation and yield are affected primarily by changing climatic conditions, pests, and diseases. Of major concern in counties of Kenya, are the impacts of climate variability and parasitic dodder (Cuscuta spp.) on tea cultivation and production. From the literature, little is reported on the continuing invasion and effects of parasitic dodder on smallholder and large-scale tea farming. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of dodder infestation on tea cultivation and yield in Nandi County. Specifically, the study sought to examine the trends of climate variability (temperature and rainfall) from 1992 to 2022. To assess tea farmers’ perceptions on the influence of climate variability on the spread of dodder. To assess tea-growing farmers' perceptions of the effects and control of dodder on tea farms. An exploratory survey design was chosen for this study. A designed questionnaire was administered to 354 statistically determined heads of tea farming households that are members of the Kenya Tea Development Agency. Six tea estate managers and two field managers who were purposefully chosen were interviewed. For the set variables, primary data from the administered questionnaire were extracted and analyzed (p≤0.05). Secondary data was sourced from libraries and relevant repositories. Rainfall and temperature data for the period were obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Department, Nandi Station. To assess the extent of dodder infestation on tea farms, GPS coordinates were captured and presented on a map. 205 respondents didn’t have dodder on their tea farms, while 149 reported a case of dodder infestation. In the Multinational tea estates, Siret, Chemomi, and Taito reported cases of dodder infestation in their catchment. Mann-Kendall Trend Analysis showed a significant increase in temperature, denoted by a Sen’s slope= 0.031 and a strong positive correlation of Kendall’s Tau 0.554 indicating an increase at...
Description
A Research Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Environmental Studies (Climate Change and Sustainability) in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University, October 2025.
Supervisors
1. Dr. James K. Koske
2. Prof. John N. Muriuki