Climate Change Perceptions, Impacts and Adaptation by Smallholder Farmers. A Household Survey in Western Kenya

The purpose of this study is to explore the climate change perceptions and its impacts on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers at household level in western Kenya with particular reference to Homabay County. Kenya, like most other developing countries has experienced extreme climate events including droughts and floods with ensuing socioeconomic consequences. Historic analysis of weather in Homabay County shows that both dry spells and extreme precipitation are hazards in the County.The study employed cross-sectional survey design in which data was collected from smallholder farmers in one survey round. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and trend analyses of climatic patterns. The study established that most smallholder farmers had experienced changing climatic conditions. The major changes ranked in order of importance during focus group discussions included prolonged dry spells, heavy but occasional rainfalls, drying water points, diminishing grazing areas and diminishing indigenous tree species. Given the over reliance of smallholder households on rain-fed agricultural activities for their livelihoods, they are very vulnerable to adverse weather conditions. The effects of climate change in the study area were in the form of crop failure, famine, livestock disease outbreak, human disease outbreak and disruption of settlements. The study recommends the need to entrench agricultural systems that build resilience to climate change and reduce green-house gas emissions from farming activities. There is also need to have reliable and accessible weather information to enhance farmers’ mitigation preparedness in curbing climate change impact. The link between the department of agriculture and meteorological department should be strengthened for easy dissemination of weather information. There is need for establishment of meteorological stations at levels that can be accessed by the farmers, including community resource centres and schools and community resource persons and teachers empowered to disseminate climate information to the farmers