Smallholders’ Coping Strategies in Response to Climate Variability in Semi-Arid Agro-Ecozones of Upper Eastern Kenya

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorNgetich, Felix K.
dc.contributor.authorMairura, Franklin S.
dc.contributor.authorMusafiri, Collins M.
dc.contributor.authorKiboi, Milka N.
dc.contributor.authorShisanya, Chris A.
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-31T07:26:40Z
dc.date.available2023-03-31T07:26:40Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionArticleen_US
dc.description.abstractRainfed agriculture dominates food production systems in arid and semi-arid agro-ecozones. Water is a key limiting factor to crop growth in the small-scale farming systems of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. Climate adaptation is a fundamental and necessary response to the threat posed by the current and future climatic changes in semi-arid farming systems of the SSA region. This study was implemented to identify the socioeconomic drivers and determinants of adaptation to rainfall variability at the farm level in contrasting agroecological zones of Kenya. Two hundred and seventy (270) farmers were selected. The survey was implemented in Mbeere South, Meru South, and Maara Sub-Counties in Kenya to determine farmers’ perceptions of climate variation during the decade that preceded the survey and climate adaptation strategies that farmers implemented. The most common climate adaptation strategies included the use of terraces (89%), early maturity crop varieties (82%), and intercropping (79%). In comparison, the least common strategies included waterharvesting strategies (29%), trenches (35%), and staggering planting dates (46%). Farmers in low potential agro-ecological zones recorded lower education levels, less secure land tenure systems, and poor access to training, extension, and credit facilities necessary for successful climatic adaptation strategies. The study findings indicated that farmers in low potential zones, including Mbeere South Sub-County, faced more risks due to the nature of climatic variation in this agro-ecozone. Farm socioeconomic characteristics were important factors that influenced farmer adaptation, including gender and age differentials, education attainments and agricultural training, farm labor availability, household food security status, and preceding annual occurrences of crop failure. There is a need to develop holistic approaches that incorporate scientific findings from the researchers and the local household-based strategies that can enhance risk assessment and management, coping and adaption strategies, and decision-making by multiple stakeholders.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipDevelopment Cooperation (DGDC)en_US
dc.identifier.citationNgetich, F. K., Mairura, F. S., Musafiri, C. M., Kiboi, M. N., & Shisanya, C. A. (2022). Smallholders' coping strategies in response to climate variability in semi-arid agro-ecozones of Upper Eastern Kenya. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 6(1), 100319.en_US
dc.identifier.otherdoi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2022.100319
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/25067
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.subjectAdaptationen_US
dc.subjectSoil and water conservationen_US
dc.subjectRainfall variabilityen_US
dc.subjectRainfed farmingen_US
dc.subjectArid and semi-arid landsen_US
dc.titleSmallholders’ Coping Strategies in Response to Climate Variability in Semi-Arid Agro-Ecozones of Upper Eastern Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Smallholders’ Coping Strategies in Response to Climate Variability in Semi-Arid Agro-Ecozones of Upper Eastern Kenya.pdf
Size:
3.01 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Full text article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
RP-Department of Geography