Factors Influencing Farmer’s Choice of Crop Production Response Strategies to Climate Change and Variability in Narok East Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

Climate change is considered one of the most serious threats to sustainable development in the world. As a sector, agriculture is very dependent on climatic conditions, which makes it extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and variability. The semi-arid areas of the world are especially more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and variability. The purpose of this study was to determine how farmers adapt to changing climate in Narok East, and determine the factors that influence their choice of response strategies. Data was collected from 223 household heads using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics to determine how farmers adapt to climate change and variability while Principal Component Analysis and a multivariate probit model were used to assess the factors that influence the choice of response strategies. The results showed that early planting, increased use of manure, use of terraces, increased use of inorganic fertilisers, and planting short season crops were the most widely used strategies while the least used were planting agroforestry trees, crop diversification and irrigation. Results of the multivariate probit model showed that the age of the household head, total household size, level of education of the household head, noticing changes in mean annual rainfall and onset of rains, receiving weather information, and the land tenure system were all significant factors that influence the choice of the response strategy. This study, therefore, recommends boosting more education and climate change awareness for the farmers of Narok East Sub-county.

Econometric Analysis of the Determinants of Rice Farming Systems Choice in Côte d’Ivoire

“…The irrigation system allows rice farmers to control water, thereby alleviating the problems of drought and flood that are inherent threats in the other two production systems. In the same way, studies of Greig (2009), Kinuthia et al (2018), Buisson and Balasubramanya (2019), Ozaki and Sakurai (2020), and Thapa and Rahman (2021) found that water availability, particularly irrigation systems, is a key determinant of the choice of crops in Tanzania, Kenya, Tajikistan, Madagascar, and Nepal, respectively. Ozaki and Sakurai (2020) reported that the presence of irrigation in lowlands influence significantly and negatively the choice of upland rice production.…”

“…Furthermore, the binary Logit model results showed that factors such as experience in rice farming, age, and early sowing influence rice farmers regarding the abandonment of rice cultivation for the benefit of other crops. Kinuthia et al (2018) identified the factors influencing the choice of cropping strategies or practices in the face of climate change in Narok East Sub-County, Kenya, using the multivariate Probit model. The econometric model results showed that age, household size, education, land tenure, mean annual rainfall and onset of rains, and weather information were significant determinants in the choice of the strategies.…”

Livelihood diversification influence on socioeconomic wellbeing of Maasai women in Isinya, Kajiado County, Kenya

“…However, the current study did not capture the income disparity of the respondents. On the other hand, studies by [21] showed that the Maasai community in Narok were not adopting crop diversification as a climate change adaptation strategy despite the current prevailing problems. Earlier studies by [9] stated that men opted for paid labour in urban centres as a way of livelihood diversification while women took up non-farm self-employed enterprises.…”

“…Despite long-term declines, and the effects of subsidised meat and milk products being dumped on African markets [17] , broadly favourable terms of trade still underpin successful pastoral economies [18] and [19], although drought or epidemic can precipitate rapid collapse into famine [20]. Similarly recent studies by [21] reported that farmers in Narok east sub-county are slow in embracing crop diversification as a strategy for climate change adaptation.…”

“…The increase in human population, reduction of land size as well as climate change has added more pressure causing a shift in the lifestyles of the Maasai community from the traditional activities of herding livestock to diversification to other livelihood sources in order to adopt to the existing conditions [21]. This study therefore addresses how livelihood diversification has influenced the socioeconomic wellbeing of Maasai women of Isinya, Kajiado County.…”