Changara, Abraham Odari2019-02-272019-02-272018http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/18931A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master of Environmental Science in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University. September, 2018Dairy farming constitutes a significant source for livelihood to a majority of households allover the world, including Kenya. Climate variability impacts negatively on dairy farming. The smallholder dairy farmers have not appropriately domesticated the necessary adaptation mechanisms for resilience against climate variability in Nyandarua County. This study assessed the strategies and practices adopted by farmers in order to cope with climate variability and its effects on smallholder dairy farming in Nyandarua county. The aim of the study was to assess climate variability, its relationship with dairy farming and to document coping strategies for resilience against climate variability by the smallholder dairy farmers of Nyandarua County. The study adopted an integrated conceptual framework approach (combined socio-economic and biophysical) in which rainfall and temperature is seen to impact dairy systems and farmers‟ coping capacity. Data on climate variables of temperature and rainfall was obtained from the Kenya Meteorological Department(KMD), while data on dairy production was from the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) that has the mandate of regulating, promoting and developing the dairy industry in Kenya. Primary data was collected from households using semistructured questionnairers, field observations and key informant interviews. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and excel spreadsheet, to generate frequencies, tables, pie charts and graphs. The findings established a significant relationship between milk production and climate variability, (P=0.047) for temperature and precipitation. Further analysis shows a positive correlation of 0.784 for milk production and climate variability. The adjusted R² Coefficient of determination was found to be 0.58, implying that 58% variation in milk production could be explained by climate variability. A unit positive change in temperature would result in -0.109 change in milk production while a unit change in precipitation would have +0.398 increases in milk production. Periods with high temperature resulted in low production of milk while high precipitation gave rise to increase in milk production. Some of the strategies adopted for coping with climate variability included; the provison of adequate feeds, storage of hay and silage, rainwater harvesting, construction of cattle shades to moderate adverse weather conditions, early milking of the animals at mid-day before the animals experience high humidity and temperature stress. Majority of the respondents had access to credit during extreme climate condition as a coping strategy. The study advocates for development of irrigation infrastructure in the region so as to make water easily accessible and also augment the water harvested during the seasonal rainfall period in the County. County Meteorological Services delivery should be strengthened and enhanced so that climate forecast products may be disseminated to farmers on regular and timely basisenThesis