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

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dc.contributor.authorMwenda, Pius
dc.contributor.authorKungu, James
dc.contributor.authorKiambi, D.K
dc.contributor.authorGevel, Jeske van de
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-20T05:49:22Z
dc.date.available2022-06-20T05:49:22Z
dc.date.issued2019-04-11
dc.descriptionA Research Article in the African Journal of Agricultural Researchen_US
dc.description.abstractClimate 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.en_US
dc.identifier.citationBorona, M., Dionysius, K., James, K., Jeske, V. D. G., Carlo, F., & Yasuyuki, M. (2019). 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. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 14(15), 712-728.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1991-637x
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/23835
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisheracademic journalsen_US
dc.subjectKenyaen_US
dc.subjectClimate change and variabilityen_US
dc.subjectvulnerabilityen_US
dc.subjectAdaptationen_US
dc.subjectSemi-ariden_US
dc.subjectSmallholder farmersen_US
dc.titleVulnerability 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 Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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