Evaluating Factors Influencing Farmers’ Access and Willingness to Pay for Climate Change Adaptation Information in South-eastern Kenya

Abstract

Currently, the biggest threat to global agricultural productivity is climate change. In order to ensure agricultural production and reduce food poverty, farmers must adapt to this new state. Access to adaptation information to enable them plan their agricultural investments was of paramount importance. This study sought to assess factors that influenced farmers’ access to climate change adaptation information and their willingness to pay as they seek to achieve resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions. The study adopted a qualitative research approach where data was collected firsthand by interviewing 443 smallholder farmers. The factors influencing farmers' access to information on coping with climate change and their willingness to pay were examined using the Probit Regression Analysis Model. From the study, the findings revealed that majority of the farmers accessed climate change adaptation information through a cocktail of channels. Radio, farmer groups, mobile phones, workshops, pamphlets, agricultural extension service providers constituted the main channels of information access. Household characteristics such as education level, group membership, awareness of adaptation, access to communication media significantly influenced access to the information. The effectiveness of the dissemination channel ultimately influenced the access to the information transmitted therein. On Willingness to Pay (WTP), 77.2% of the farmers were willing to pay to access or gain knowledge on adaptability, 62% of which were willing to pay in Cash. The mean willingness to pay in Cash was 12.78 USD per year whereas payment in Kind was dominantly through giving of maize yield from the production of 66.97 kgs per year which translated to 18.40 USD at current market price. This amount was contrasted on smallholder average annual income of Ksh. 50, 200 (460 USD). The main factors that affected farmers' WTP were the efficiency, understanding, and accessibility to information on adaptation to the changing climate. Farmers that had advanced in years and rely on farming as the primary income source were reluctant to pay for the information. Further sensitization of farmers on importance of climate change adaptation should be conducted. Similarly, farmers should be encouraged to join the climate field schools for more edification on climate change adaptation. Information dissemination source should adopt channels that can reach larger population on time and effectively.