Pastoralists’ Choice of Response Strategies to Climate Change and Variability in Semi-arid areas of Narok, Kenya

Abstract

Crop farming and pastoralism are the main economic activities in the semi-arid lands of Narok County, Kenya. Like many semi-arid areas in the country, the region has been experiencing climate change and variability. This has caused the farmers and pastoralists to adopt various response strategies to the changing climate. This study aimed to document the strategies that the pastoralists had adopted for livestock production and the factors that influenced their decision. The study was conducted in all the four wards of Narok East in 2016. A cross-sectional survey research design was used, whereby 223 household heads were interviewed using a semi- structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to assess pastoralists’ response strategies, while a multivariate probit model in conjunction with Principal Component Analysis was used to determine the factors that influence their choice of the response strategies. Results showed that herd reduction, transhumance, new breeds of livestock and fencing were the most widely adopted strategies. Results of the multivariate probit analysis showed that gender, level of education and age of the household head, total household size, receiving weather information and land tenure system were all significant factors in influencing a farmer’s choice of response strategy. This study therefore recommends that farmers be empowered to access improved livestock breeds, education on climate change aspects and information on accurate and timely weather forecasts be availed to farmers.