Effects Of Trends Of Climate Variability On Small Scale Farmers In Mwala Constituency, Machakos County

Abstract

This study was undertaken in Mwala Constituency where most small scale farmers depend on rain fed agriculture and over the years, frequent crop failure due to rain shortages have become common. Climate variability has been a great challenge to small scale farmers in Mwala for a while. The agricultural yields have reduced drastically making some of the farmers being not able to adapt quickly to the best ways to curb the problem and thus lagging behind in terms of production. Climate scientist predicts increasingly dry conditions in much of Africa due to climate variability. Small scale farmers’ efforts have shown both unfavorable and positive effects and hence the need to be explored. The study investigated the following objectives; to determine the causes of trends of climate variability in Mwala Constituency, to assess how these trends of climate variability have affected the small scale farmers in Mwala Constituency and to explore some of the adaptation strategies that can be embraced by the small scale farmers in Mwala Constituency. Anthropogenic Global Warming and Cloud Formation theories were used in the study. The study employed simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires and review of documents were employed to generate relevant primary and secondary data respectively. The study targeted 500 small scale farmers from which 10% was taken to get the sample size which was 50 respondents. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were adopted and results presented using frequency tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Results of the study established that small scale farmers in Mwala experienced climate variability in the period 2009-2017 which resulted to death of livestock, loss of crops and lack of income especially for those who depended only on farming activity as their source of income. Major adaptation strategies adopted by small scale farmers were mixed crops farming, growing crops that mature faster, increased use of inorganic fertilizers and change of planting dates that is, planting at first rain. The probability of more educated farmers to adapt to climate variability was higher than that of less educated farmers. The challenges to climate adaptations strategies among the small scale farmers identified included; lack of improved seeds, Poverty, lack of necessary farm input and lack of timely climate forecasting information on the expected climate changes. The study concluded that climate variability is real and small-scale farmers have adopted various adaptation strategies which are constrained by a range of challenges in Mwala constituency. The study recommends that rain-fed farming in Mwala needs to be complimented with irrigation, rain water harvesting through floods collection and green house techniques to enhance sustainable crop production. The Ministry of Agriculture and those dealing with issues to do with weather should ensure accurate and reliable weather information is recorded and weather advisories are timely developed and availed to the farmers. Small scale farmers should be empowered on the need to embrace sustainable adaptation strategies.