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Adapting agriculture to climate change in Kenya: Household strategies and determinants

2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 114; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.10.036

1095-8630

Elizabeth Bryan, Claudia Ringler, Barrack Okoba, Carla Roncoli, Silvia Silvestri, Mario Herrero,

Agricultural risk and resilience

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to climate change, given dependence on agricultural production and limited adaptive capacity. Based on farm household and Participatory Rural Appraisal data collected from districts in various agroecological zones in Kenya, this paper examines farmers' perceptions of climate change, ongoing adaptation measures, and factors influencing farmers' decisions to adapt. The results show that households face considerable challenges in adapting to climate change. While many households have made small adjustments to their farming practices in response to climate change (in particular, changing planting decisions), few households are able to make more costly investments, for example in agroforestry or irrigation, although there is a desire to invest in such measures. This emphasizes the need for greater investments in rural and agricultural development to support the ability of households to make strategic, long-term decisions that affect their future well-being.