Abstract

AbstractThe adverse effect of climate change on agriculture is well-documented and is a cause of concern for governments globally. In addition to concerns over food crop production, the economies of numerous developing countries rely heavily on cash crops. The coffee and tea sectors are key in Kenya’s economy, contributing significantly to the gross domestic product, foreign exchange, and the direct or indirect employment of millions. Farmers engaged in the production of coffee and tea are predominantly small-scale farmers, with the majority farming on less than five acres. Climate change poses a threat to the production of these two crops and by extension to the economy of Kenya and the livelihood of farmers and those employed in these sectors. This study identifies the challenges posed by climate change in the tea and coffee sectors, the adaptation and mitigation measures identified, and the scope of their implementation. The production, processing, and marketing of tea and coffee in Kenya differs widely in terms of the institutions and institutional arrangements in the two sectors. This study will therefore analyze the role played by institutions in both sectors and how this affects climate change adaptation and mitigation measures by small-scale farmers.

Highlights

  • Agriculture in KenyaThe agriculture sector is key to Kenya’s economy

  • More than 85,000 small-scale farmers had been trained by 2015 on Sustainable Agricultural Practices under a farmer field School (FFS) program (Cameron 2017). Another multilateral collaboration is between Germany, China, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which was formed with the aim of promoting sustainable agricultural development and combating climate change in Kenya

  • Tea and coffee are essential to farmers and other Kenyans as a source of livelihood, to the government as a contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign exchange and to the commodity chain players such as marketers and retailers

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Summary

Alice Nyawira Karuri

Climate change poses a threat to the production of these two crops and by extension to the economy of Kenya and the livelihood of farmers and those employed in these sectors. This study identifies the challenges posed by climate change in the tea and coffee sectors, the adaptation and mitigation measures identified, and the scope of their implementation. The production, processing, and marketing of tea and coffee in Kenya differs widely in terms of the institutions and institutional arrangements in the two sectors. This study will analyze the role played by institutions in both sectors and how this affects climate change adaptation and mitigation measures by small-scale farmers. Kenya · Tea · Coffee · Small-scale farmers · Climate change adaptation · Institutions

Agriculture in Kenya
Climate Change Policies and Regulations in Kenya
Tea Sector in Kenya
Climate Change Challenges in the Tea Sector
Coffee Sector in Kenya
Climate Change Challenges in the Coffee Sector
Recommendations and Conclusion
Farmer Empowerment
Strengthening of Institutions
Findings
Collaborations and Partnerships
Full Text
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