dc.description.abstract |
There is growing evidence of climate change and variability with indicator such as floods,
extremely high temperatures, frosts, famine and low temperature. These extreme events of
Climate change and variability have proved to pose serious risks that have adverse
consequences on production of Irish potato. Despite such risks, there have been few studies on
climate change effect on Irish potatoes production and particularly from the farmer’s
perspective especially in semi-arid zones of Kenya. This study therefore was designed to
establish the impacts of climate change and variability on small scale Irish potato production in
Ndaragwa. The specific objectives were: to analyze the nature of climate change and variability
in Ndaragwa agro-ecological zone; to determine the small scale Irish potato farmer’s awareness
of climate change and variability in Ndaragwa; to assess small scale Irish potato farmer’s
perception of the impacts of climate change and Variability on Irish potato production; to
establish the relationship between Irish potato production and climate elements in Ndaragwa
and to establish the practices and technologies related to climate change adaptation on Irish
potato production among the communities in Ndaragwa . The study adopted a cross-sectional
survey of respondents from the four wards of Ndaragwa constituency. The sample size of 398
households was selected using Krejcie and Morgan’s table of determination. Random and
systematic sampling was used to obtain the household respondents who completed the
semistructured questionnaire. The questionnaire was supplemented with 5 Focus Group
Discussions (FGDs) and 10 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). The study used resilience theory
in synthesizing a conceptual framework and the analysis was done using Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) Computer software version 23. The study established that climate
change and variability is indeed taking place in Ndaragwa with cases of increased temperatures
and erratic rainfall being observed from the analysis. The majority (95.5%) of the respondents
are aware that climate change is taking place, and when the respondents were asked how they
perceive climatic event in their area over 10 years period, all of them said there have been an
increase in temperature while 86.4% perceived decrease in rainfall. However, majority 75.7%
of the residents are not aware that climate variability is taking place. The study further found
that, respondents perceived the most experienced climate change risks as frost, drought and
water scarcity, pest and diseases, heavy rain and hails, increased temperatures and floods and
linked the risks with the effect of Irish potato production mainly through wilting and drying of
Irish potato, poor production, increased pest and diseases, crop failure due to frost bite, rotting
of Irish potatoes, poor germination, poor quality tubers, food shortage and also fast growth of
Irish potato. Data subjected to inferential statistics using correlation analysis establish a strong
positive relationship (r= 0.979) between long rains and r=0.896 in short rains and production.
In temperatures, a weak positive relationship r=0.237 was established between minimum
temperature and production while a negative relationship r= -0.381 between maximum
temperatures and production was established. The study further established that majority of the
respondents (82.1%), are practicing different technologies to adapt to climate change while
only 17.9% have not yet changed their faming systems. Among the most used adaptation
strategies include: practicing mixed faming, livestock keeping, changing planting dates, using
of inorganic fertilizers/ use of chemicals, planting drought resistant potato variety and irrigating
potato farms. The study concluded that climate change and variability is taking place and such
changes are perceived to have serious effects to Irish potato production and therefore the study
recommended that an accurate and timely weather focus should be provided in advance to help
farmers prepare for any risks related to extreme weather events. There is also need for the
government to initiate crop insurance to insure farmers in case of total crop failure. More so,
more agricultural extension officers should be employed to educate farmers on the modern
ways of farming to cope with climate change. This will improve their production as they will
embrace using more resistant varieties as well as using improved technology. |
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