Agrobiodiversity and Perceived Climatic Change Effect on Family Farming Systems in Semiarid Tropics of Kenya

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorNjeru, Ezekiel Mugendi
dc.contributor.authorAwino, Richard Otieno
dc.contributor.authorKirui, Kibet Charles
dc.contributor.authorKoech, Kipkorir
dc.contributor.authorJalloh, Abdul Alhaji
dc.contributor.authorMuthini, Morris
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-10T07:07:41Z
dc.date.available2023-07-10T07:07:41Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionArticleen_US
dc.description.abstractThe steady decline in agrobiodiversity is not only a significant threat to the genetic stability of the rural agroecosystems but also places a huge impediment to the realization of global food security. Climate change and decline in arable land is forcing subsistence farmers to abandon the less productive but well-adapted local crops for the newer short term and drought-tolerant crops decimating agrobiodiversity further. This study sought to establish the on-farm species and genetic diversity status among the family farming systems of semiarid areas of Eastern Kenya and effect on food security, agrobiodiversity management strategies, their perception of climate change, and climate change coping strategies. Structured questionnaires were administered to 92 active farmers in Embu, Kitui, and Tharaka Nithi Counties of Eastern Kenya. On-farm diversity, socio-economic factors, and their impact on agrobiodiversity were determined. Possible correlations were established using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. Remarkably, 26 crop species were recorded where legumes and cereals were dominant. According to the Shannon–Wiener Diversity index (H′), Tharaka Nithi County recorded the highest legumes and cereals diversity indices of 3.436 and 3.449, respectively. Food shortage was reported by over 50% of the respondents in the study area. The existence of weaker adaptive measures in response to climate change was evident. Family farming systems that had higher crop diversification and integrated livestock rearing in their farms were more food secure. Improved mitigation to climate change and diversification of farming systems among the smallholder farms is essential not only in boosting the food security but also in establishment of sustainable farming systems resilient to climate changeen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Future Leaders – African Independent Researchers (FLAIR) Fellowship Programme,en_US
dc.identifier.citationNjeru, E. M., Awino, R. O., Kirui, K. C., Koech, K., Jalloh, A. A., & Muthini, M. (2022). Agrobiodiversity and perceived climatic change effect on family farming systems in semiarid tropics of Kenya. Open Agriculture, 7(1), 360-372.en_US
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2022-0099 r
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/26130
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherDe Gruyteren_US
dc.subjectagrobiodiversityen_US
dc.subjectfood securityen_US
dc.subjectclimate changeen_US
dc.subjectfamily farming systemsen_US
dc.subjectKenyaen_US
dc.titleAgrobiodiversity and Perceived Climatic Change Effect on Family Farming Systems in Semiarid Tropics of Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Agrobiodiversity and Perceived Climatic Change Effect on Family Farming Systems in Semiarid Tropics of Kenya.pdf
Size:
2.77 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 Biochemistry and Biotechnology