Designing an Innovation Systems Approach Towards Enhanced Farmer Adoption of Climate Services Within Dryland Agroecosystems in Kitui, Kenya.

Abstract

Climate change and vulnerability are major challenges in ensuring household food security. In response to this, many adaptation options are being implemented in the form of small, timebound pilot-based projects in developing countries. Among these is the promotion of the use of climate services in an attempt to cushion rural households from extreme climate risks. This study endeavored to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers in Kitui county through improved adoption of climate services. The study employed a mixed type of methods and approaches. The sampling was done through a mixed stratified and systematic random sampling. Systematic literature review method was used to interrogate the past climate services pilot projects in order to establish good practices, which could inform future efforts towards enhancing adoption of climate services. The study attempted to transfer those good practices to the study area, Kitui County. The study also assessed the vulnerability of smallholder farmers in the study area using the indicator approach to vulnerability assessment. In addition, the study defined a climate services innovation system comprised of key actors at the county level, which was operationalized throughout a crop growing season in a transdisciplinary approach to realize enhanced adoption of climate services among the smallholder farmers. The innovations systems approach embraces a network of heterogeneous actors working together throughout the value chain, that is, from production to use in a way that the flow of information is not linear but composed of very complex. The results showed that the pilot projects have contributed enormously to climate risk management at the farm level through informing strategic farm decisions. The vulnerability assessment results pointed to a general vulnerable population in the county albeit with spatial disparities. Further, the study revealed the use possible of innovation systems approach in overcoming inherent climate services challenges, which resulted in enhanced adoption of climate services among smallholder farmers. In conclusion, the study revealed that climate services offer great opportunity to smallholder farmers in managing impending climate risk, which contributes to building their adaptive capacity to climate change. It also revealed that participatory approaches, which view knowledge adoption more systematically and interactively, such as innovation systems approach, present opportunities to enhance adoption of adaptation interventions. The study recommends a more systems approach in place of the current linear and top-down delivery approach of climate services, because it has the potential to enhance salience, credibility and legitimacy of the scientific information and ultimately lead to enhanced adoption