Climate Change Effects on Crop Production in Yatta Sub-county: Farmer Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies
View/ Open
Date
2019Author
Agesa, Beverly L
Kathumo, Vincent
Onyango, Cecilia M
Omwanga, Richard
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In Yatta sub-County, a semi-arid land, there is scanty information on the causes and
effects of climate change, as well as agricultural adaptation strategies. This scanty
information assessment of climate related risks, and decision making about appropriate
adaptation measures. A survey was conducted in two wards of Yatta, Kenya, to identify
opportunities for building farmer capacity in dealing with climate variability. A semistructured
questionnaire was administered to 60 households randomly distributed in the
two wards and data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists
(SPSS). Results showed that farmers in the region were aware of climate change (98%)
with the known indicators reported to be erratic and low rainfall (50%), drought (33%),
and rising temperatures (14%). Farmers mentioned deforestation (73%) as the main
cause of climate change, and reported major impacts on crop production in the region,
such as the introduction of drought tolerant crops (45%) reduced yields (43%) and
changes in planting time (38%). As a result, farmers prepared the land early using
organic and inorganic fertilizers, planted early-maturing crop varieties and carried out
water and soil conservation practices. Even though farmers in Yatta sub–county are
aware of climate change its impacts and different coping and adaptation strategies, crop
production in the region continues to decline. There is need, therefore, to increase
farmer’s capacity to better adapt to the effects of climate change to ensure sustainable
agricultural production and improved food security.
URI
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330830034_Climate_Change_Effects_on_Crop_Production_in_Kenya_Farmer_Perceptions_and_Adaptation_Strategieshttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/155207
Citation
Agesa BL, Onyango CM, M KV, Onwonga RN, GN K. "Climate Change Effects on Crop Production in Yatta sub-County: Farmer Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies." African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 2019;19(1):14010-14042.Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
Agricultural production; Climate Change; Arid and Semi-Arid Lands; Adaptation to climate changeRights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
The following license files are associated with this item: