Characterization of Small Scale Farmers’ Low Levels of Adoption to Crop Insurance as an Adaptation Strategy to Climate Variability in Nyandarua County of Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is one of the many countries in Sub Saharan Africa affected by climate variability and its related hazards due to changes in temperature and variations in rainfall in most parts of the country. The present study has been undertaken to assess the adaptation strategies applied by the small scale farmers in response to climate variability in Nyandarua County. The study has been conducted in central region of Kenya which is relatively humid and good for agricultural production. A total sample size of 300 respondents from five sub counties was used to collect the primary data through the random sampling technique. Descriptive Likert analysis and Inferential binary logit regression was used to assess the factors affecting the willingness to adopt crop insurance to mitigate the risks of variability of climate on crop farming. The results of the study indicate that adoption of crop insurance scored very low in relation to other adaptation strategies. The logit regression model on the other hand revealed that age and marital status was positively significant with willingness to adopt crop insurance while the marginal effects of levels of income and monthly income implied that the likelihood of willingness to adapt crop insurance increased by 1.32 times and 13.3 percent respectively. Based on the study findings, if small scale farmers are well supported to adopt crop insurance, then this adaptation strategy can be among the most effective strategies in Kenya. However, due to low adaptive capacity, more awareness needs to be created on the importance and procedures of obtaining the specific agricultural insurance covers. The study concludes that modern adaptation approaches are important in presence of formal crop insurance policies especially in the rural areas of Kenya.

Evaluating Challenges and Opportunities in Greenhouse Farming among Smallholder Vegetable Producers in Kericho County, Kenya

“…As noted by Opanda ( 2021), specialised knowledge is often required for greenhouse technology; a lack of extension support thus is expected to present challenges where extension services are lacking or inadequate. Muriithi et al (2021) observed that GHT requires adequate expertise, indicating a need for technical information to initiate and sustain the GHT system. The lack of scientific information on greenhouse farming was identified as a major challenge among smallholders (Wayua et al, 2020).…”

“…The lack of relevant information was ranked the fourth most important challenge in their study. Muriithi et al (2021) similarly pointed out that lack of information was a major constraint in the utilisation of greenhouse technology as a measure to mitigate climate variability. Elsewhere in other crops, crop productivity in coffee has been linked to technical information inputs (Cheruiyot, 2022); emphasising the significance of the information inputs on the overall farm productivity.…”

“…Although Greenhouse technology has an important role to play in minimising these adverse effects of climate variability on fresh vegetable production, reports suggest that smallholder farmers are faced with many challenges in its utilisation. Limited resources to invest in greenhouse technology is one such challenge; the adaptive capacity of the farmers is another (Muriithi et al, 2021). Studies conducted by Ateka et al (2021) revealed that the adaptive capacity of the farmers may be aided by their education levels, farm income, access to credits, and access to markets.…”