Abstract
Climate change has an impact on agriculture and subsequently food productivity and security. This study assesses adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change by smallholder dairy farmers in the Nandi county of Kenya. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and key informant interviews were used to collect data. A Pearson's chi-square test was used to test significant associations. Results indicate most households in study area were male headed (79.2%), with between 4 and 6 people (51.8%) and aged between 31 and 60 years (75.4%). Over 80% of households were dependent on farming as a source of income. Households depended on natural pastures on their own farms as a source of feed (76.5%) and crop residues (49.9%). Natural pastures and fodder crops were considered the most important source of feed for the cows. Fodder were planted in less than 0.5 acres of land for Napier (80.1%), Rhodes grass (57.5%), Sorghum (54%), Maize (33.4%), Kikuyu Grass (40.3%), Lucerne (59.4%) and household planting <50 fodder Trees (82.1%). Smallholder farmers conserved/preserved crop residue (88.2%), hay (39.9%) and silage (35.4%). Methods used to address negative experiences of climate change included use conserved hay/ silage (44.2%), buying of commercial feeds (40.9%), use crop residue (74.6%), moving of animals to other farms (8.8%) and selling of animals (17.4%). Measures to prevent negative effects of climate change included adoption of fodder types/varieties (54.7%) and conservation and preservation practices (70.0%). The study recommends greater attention to increase fodder crop production and conservation, support to smallholder farmers to explore new ways that would sustainably help them adapt and mitigate the effect of climate change on fodder productivity and subsequently on milk production.
Highlights
Climate change and agriculture are inextricably linked
The study was in Nandi County which falls within the agro-ecological zones of Upper Highland (UH) to Upper Midland (UM) and is one of the major dairy zones in Kenya predominately smallholder dairy farming that mainly rely on rain fed fodder production
The response rate based on gender (Table 1) indicates that male respondents were 59.8% compared to female who were 40.2% in all wards considered except Kosirai ward in Chesumei subcounty
Summary
Climate change and agriculture are inextricably linked. Agriculture still depends fundamentally on the weather. Other CSA practices include increasing soil organic matter, practicing mixed-species forestry or agro-forestry to improve the soil quality and reduction of impacts of droughts and/or floods It is concerned with efficient water management, a critical and a far-reaching adaptation and livelihood goal to a resource that is threatened by climate change (Hobbs et al, 2008). CSA aims at sustainable intensification of agriculture production systems to increase and enhance productivity contributing to achievement of national food security and to the attainment of development goals (FAO, 2015) As a strategy, it aims at safeguarding the SDGs and reducing the vulnerability of rural communities’ socio-economically, especially in developing countries. In terms of mitigation measures to negative effect of climate change, the strategies considered in the study include adoption of new fodder types/ varieties, adoption of new planning methods, intercropping different fodder, and conservation and preservation practices while climate Smart Agricultural technologies include compost making, use of biogas, water conservation, disease control, planting fodder trees, reducing number of animals and breeding using Artificial intelligence (AI)
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