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Scirj Volume XII, Issue VII, July 2024 Edition
ISSN: 2201-2796

SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ADAPTATION TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SELECTED PARTS OF MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA

Faith M. Moses, Christopher Oludhe, Gilbert Ouma and Patrick D. Kisangau

Abstract: Climate change is a global challenge that has attracted a lot of attention and debate at all levels. The need for human development has accumulated a buildup of Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere thus contributing to global warming. Initially, most efforts concerning climate change were focused on mitigation, but in the recent years, more and more applications have been made to adaptation to the effects of climate change, which is currently a major issue in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to examine the adaptation strategies of the small holder farmers against climate change and variability in three agro-ecological sites in Makueni County, Kenya. The study used survey research design. The three agro-ecological sites were selected using stratified sampling, while simple random method was used to select 289 households for interview. Selection of key informants was done through purposive sampling method. Data was collected through administration of semi-structured and open-ended questionnaires to the selected households, and also through interview of key informants, focus group discussions, observation and photography. Findings indicated that there was significant correlation between the climate change and agro-ecological zones studied (X2=13.3, df=2, P<0.01). Results further indicate that there were significance changes in occurrences of emergencies in the three agro-ecological zones (p<0.05). There were increased floods (observed by 86.9% of farmers), and water availability decreased (supported by 93.8%). The types of crops varied significantly by the three agro-ecological zones (p<0.05), with some crops preferred in some agro-ecological zones to others. Irrigation as an adaptation strategy was statistically significant across the three agro-ecological zones, and more common at Mbooni agro-ecological zone (p<0.00). Several adaptive methods of crop production were adopted, and significantly varied across the zones (p<0.05).

Reference this Paper: SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ADAPTATION TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SELECTED PARTS OF MAKUENI COUNTY, KENYA by Faith M. Moses, Christopher Oludhe, Gilbert Ouma and Patrick D. Kisangau published at: "Scientific Research Journal (Scirj), Volume XII, Issue VII, July 2024 Edition, Page 6-17 ".

Search Terms: Smallholder farmers, climate change, adaptations, Makueni County

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