English

Nambuya Musebe Irene,Onyango Musebe Richard,Billy Maonga Beston,Mbogo Steven,Tchale Harwick,Edriss Abdi-Khalil

doi:10.5897/ajar2018.13109

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of climate change and climate variability on food security in Kenya based on a sample size of 270 farmers randomly selected from semi-arid agro-ecological zones in Kenya. Both primary and secondary data were used in the present study. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and regression models. The results revealed that increase in temperature and reduction in rainfall had significant effect (p<0.01) on food security in Kenya. Increase in the amount of rainfall by 1 mm in the semi-arid areas enhanced food security by 0.01 kg while increase in maximum temperatures by 1°C reduced food security among households by 0.03 kg. Further, food security of Kenya is affected by increase in temperature and decline in rainfall. One unit increase in temperature would cause USD 3.9 million worth of value to become at risk as compared to USD 118,942 worth when rainfall decreased by 1 mm. Overall, the value at risk in the Kenyan economy is USD 112,351,112.46. Key words: Food security, climate change, temperature, rainfall, risk.

Highlights

The weighted food security was revealed by three parameters; number of months households are food self-sufficient, average number of meals households had per day and the percent off-farm food source of households interviewed per year in semi-arid areas
Multiple linear regression revealed that correct levels of temperature and rainfall contributed positively to food security scenarios among the households and this was statistically significant at 1% (Table 1)
The results showed that increase in the amounts of rainfall received by 1 mm in the semi-arid areas increased food security by 0.01 kg while increase in maximum temperatures by 1°C reduced food security among households by 0.33 kg

Summary

Introduction

High temperatures, shortage of rainfall and floods exert heavy pressure on food resource availability, thereby, causing food insecurity (Dinar et al 2008; Mendelsohn and Tiwari, 2000). In order to ensure food security, it is necessary to minimize the impact of climate change and climate variability. This can be achieved by undertaking mitigation and adaptation measures.

Methods

Results

Conclusion