Determinants Of Access And Use Of Climate Information Services Among Smallholder Farmers In Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

Globally climate change has been a major constraint towards achieving food security, poverty reduction and sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, adaptation to climate change is imperative to reduce farmers‘ vulnerability to climate-related risks. Climate information services have been recommended as prerequisite tools towards the adoption of adaptation strategies to curb climate vagaries in Africa. While the production and provision of climate information services (CIS) in Kenya has increased, their accessibility and application in farm decision making against climate risks have been limited. Although addressing the various constraints that limit the use of this information could increase farmer‘s adaptive capacity, the factors that affect both access and use of CIS in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya have not been comprehensively documented. Therefore, this study analysed the determinants of access and the utilisation of CIS among smallholder farmers in Makueni County. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered on 250 households. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers, the various climate information services accessed, their dissemination channels and usefulness in farm decision making. Heckprobit model was used to analyse both the determinants of access and use of CIS in farm decision making. The results showed that majority of households interviewed relied on mixed farming as the main source of livelihood. 77.4 percent of households interviewed had access to climate information services and radio was the main dissemination channel followed by television and newspapers. The main climate information services accessed by farmers were seasonal climate information, the forecast of extreme events and indigenous forecast. Seasonal climate information services were considered most useful in farm decision making against climate-related risks. Among the households that accessed CIS, only 40.4 percent utilised it. Majority of farmers who did not utilise climate information confirmed that lack of trust was the main constraint. The results of the selection vi equation of Heckprobit model showed that age of household head reduced the likelihood of access to CIS while monthly income, television ownership, major income activity, household size, farm size and group membership increased the likelihood of access to CIS. On the other hand, the results of outcome equation showed that age, gender and frequent exposure to drought reduced the likelihood of using CIS while monthly income, radio ownership, major income activity and access to improved seed increased the likelihood of using CIS in farm decision making. The high level of access to climate information services among the farmers interviewed implied that there is a high potential for timely and reliable information to enhance climate-informed farm decisions. To enhance farmer‘s trust in climate information services, the providers should ensure that the information is accurate and incorporate it with the indigenous knowledge that farmers have previously been using. The findings of this study also suggest that the provision of improved seed at subsidized prices would increase farmers‘ utilisation of climate information services. Additionally, promotion of farmer groups to ensure the flow of climate information and discussions among smallholder farmers would increase the access of CIS.