Influence of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies and Management Practices on Relative Sustainability of Smallholder Potato Farmers in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya’s economy is largely dependent on rainfed agriculture and hence susceptible to climate change and extreme weather events. Potato (Solanum tuberosum), one of the most important food crops in Kenya is one of the worst hit agricultural systems. Smallholder potato farmers have resorted to Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies and Management Practices (CSA TMPs) as an adaptation strategy. Partly, climate-smart agricultural TMPs are implemented with the goal of reducing the vulnerability of farmers to the harmful effects of climate change such as poor sustainability of agricultural systems. This study sought to contribute to improved food security and livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural areas through enhanced sustainability in potato farming. A cross sectional survey design was employed. The study area was Taita-Taveta, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Elgeyo Marakwet Counties in Kenya. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to get the study sample of 312 smallholder farmers. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data using Stata (version 14), DEAP (version 2.1) and NVivo (version 12) software. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the types of climate-smart agricultural TIMPs among smallholder potato farmers. A threefold Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition of the Fractional Response Model was used in analyzing the influence of selected CSA TMPs on the relative sustainability of smallholder potato farming. This study found that the relative sustainability index obtained by adopters of CSA TMPs recommendations in potato farming was 58.1% greater than that of nonadopters. More financial, technical and policy support should be given by the governments at both national and county levels as well as other development partners towards enhancing uptake of CSA technologies in their bid to enhance the relative sustainability of potato farming.