On the 18th and 19th of July 2024, the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) together with Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) held a co-creation workshop with Smallholder farmers from the Central Highlands Region of Kenya in Nyeri. This was the 2nd Sub-national workshop among the series of co-creation workshops to Accelerate Smallholder Agriculture Adaptation in Kenya. The two-day subnational workshop brought together small holder farmers in crop, fisheries & livestock sectors, extension officers, technical officers from the agricultural ministries and representatives of farmers organisations from Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi Counties who were representative of the Central Highlands Region of Kenya. The aim of this workshop was to evaluate the progress of adaptation in the agricultural sector in the region, identify locally-led adaptation options, while highlighting key gaps and needs, to enhance agricultural efforts in the face of climate change. Gladly, all these objectives were achieved through discussions and breakout sessions as the workshop was a co-creation one. Here is what we learnt from smallholder farmers in the central highland region with regard to climate change risks they face and the adaptation techniques they use.

Group Photo: Participants pose for a photo during Nyeri workshop

What Risks do Farmers in Central Highland Kenya face due to climate change?

Climate Change Risks that Crop Farmers Face

Climatic risks experienced by farmers in the Central Highlands of the country relate substantially to crop production. Fluctuations in rainfall patterns lead to changes in availability of water hence the crop yields and the quality of food crops such as maize, beans, and vegetables are negatively affected. In addition, variations in temperature and frosts pose a risk to the sustainability of crops due to increased pest and disease incidences. As mentioned by the farmers, they specifically experience the Fall Army Worm Locusts, African Army Worm while the diseases affecting the crops due to the seasonal changes are; Fungal diseases, Anthracnox (Blackish specs in the bananas or brown layering on green pods), Cigar Head among others. These conditions not only influence the yields in agriculture but also overburden the farmer in areas such as water and pest control.

Climate Change Risks that livestock farmers face

The reduction of rainfall capacity and the increase in temperatures in central highlands have negatively affected the availability and quality of animal feeds and water that livestock depend on. Such conditions worsen diseases and stress in animals, particularly cattle and poultry, lowering productivity and food security. Moreover, weather conditions including long-lasting dry seasons or early frosts impact traditional animal breeding significantly and need special efforts and fodder.

Climate Change Risks that Fish Farmers Face

Floods and droughts are risky weather situations in that fishponds may be destroyed and dissolved oxygen in water may be low to support the fish. In addition, fluctuations in temperature affect the growth and spawning period of fish, an aspect that challenges the sustainability of the fishery business. The unpredictable weather conditions exert a lot of pressure on the fish farming industries in order to become efficient in their production. Also, farmers from Nakuru confirmed that most fish in their rivers and lakes had been contaminated by metals that can be found in flowing rainwater, rainwater drops that end up in lakes rivers, and sometimes fishponds.

How small-scale farmers in the Central Highlands Region adapt to Climate change

Small-scale farmers in Kenyan Central Highland counties need to be applauded for implementing new and efficient approaches to agriculture in the context of climate change. These are essential for supporting agriculture as a means of tenure in a climate change-vulnerable area in order to feed people and sustain their income base. 

Crop Farming Adaptation Practices

Farmers are strategically shifting to planting crops that can resist drought (drought-resistant crops) and crops that mature early (early-maturing crops). These varieties are purposely selected since they do well under low rainfall or changing climatic conditions thus eliminating crop failure. Also, soil management practices like conservation agriculture that involves minimal tillage and retention of soil cover assist in moisture retention thereby boosting soil’s ability to withstand the extremes of weather conditions. In addition, these farmers have developed techniques for harvesting rainwater during excess rainfall and saving it for when there will be a dry season. Lastly farmers have prioritized crops for commercial purposes. Some farmers use solar technology to irrigate their crops using water from drilled boreholes.

Livestock Farming Adaptation Practices

To meet the challenge of reduced natural pasture and water availability, livestock farmers have resorted to adopting zero-grazing technology that enhances efficiency in the use of the few available resources. Also, they use sex semen to increase productivity and at the same time, they are invested in making silage to prepare for prolonged dry seasons. The vulnerable people, prefer rearing small animals such as goats and sheep that do not require a lot of fodder. These measures are not only helpful for maintaining animal health and production but also help to avoid reliance on potentially unreliable sources of water. 

Fisheries Adaptations

Due to the changes in the water level and temperatures, several measures have been adopted by fish farmers. The intervention measures such as using pond liners assist in preventing weather shocks and fluctuations hence improving fish stock and yield.

Key Adaptation Gaps Smallholder Farmers in Central Highlands Region Are Facing

Smallholder Farmers in the central highland counties of Kenya still face major barriers in adapting to climate change even with measures being implemented. They identified which sectors need more focus and development to assist farmers in enhancing the climate protection of farming processes.

Access to Resources and Technology

The first factor is the lack of access to modern-day technologies, machinery and other tools needed in the production of agriculture. Smallholders may have little working capital to improve on better technologies and quality inputs such as smart technologies for water management and quality seeds in instances where weather conditions turn negative.

Knowledge and Training

Some of the new challenges include a lack of education and skills development on climate change among farmers. Few of the farmers know that there are certain changes that can be made but they do not have adequate knowledge or expertise to incorporate such changes. This is accompanied by scarce extension services that can help and direction wherever there are challenges.

Infrastructure and Market Access

These problems are accompanied by infrastructures like roads and storage and the three remain at high risk of climate change for smallholder farmers. This is exacerbated by poor market access as farmers cannot sell their produce at a better price to afford better climate-smart practices. The filling of these gaps therefore needs to be pursued through enhanced collaboration between governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the international society. The stakeholders can therefore rise to the occasion and motivate farmers to not only exist but to produce more through the provision of the above-mentioned resources, knowledge, and infrastructure.

Research Priorities in Central Highland Regions

Due to the increasing effects of climate change in the Central Highland counties of Kenya, research focusing on high-potential and value crops for smallholder farmers is crucial. Some of the critical research areas that have been established to facilitate the development of adaptation models are under the following broad categories:

Climate-Resilient Agricultural Practices

Crop and livestock development: There is a challenge for additional research in developing crop and livestock varieties that are suitable for production under adverse environmental conditions including drought, floods, and fluctuations in temperature. This includes selecting and experimenting on crops that may be able to grow under limited water circumstances and livestock that may be able to withstand diseases caused by the climate.

Water Management Techniques

Sustainable approaches to water usage are important because of changing weather patterns and dwindling sources of fresh water. The studies should concentrate on the improved efficient water delivery techniques, rainwater management technologies, and water-saving measures that the farmers can engage in to avert crop failure during drought periods.

Socio-economic Impacts of Climate Change

Therefore, it is important to know and analyze how climate affects the social and economic characteristics of agricultural people. The research in this area would help in identifying how climate change impacts livelihood, and would therefore help policymakers and planners in developing strategies that could minimize the impacts of climate change.

Integration of Traditional Knowledge

There is a huge void that requires filling for the purpose of incorporating traditional knowledge systems into a scientific approach to come up with sustainable farming practices for this part of the world. It encourages the involvement of local knowledge and practices thereby increasing participation and more so the effectiveness of the adaptation measures.

Other research areas that farmers from the central highland region request to be done are:

  • Testing pregnancy through a particular plant Croton macrostachyus
  • Nutrient content of super Napier
  • Research into feed and fodder nutrients, and level of toxicity.
  • Research into Castor seeds as a source of animal feeds, (poisonous cover, useful internal) as an enterprise, castor oil.
  • Use of castor leaves to support removal of placenta for livestock (ITK)
  • Alternative sources of energy and fuel for example Croton seeds
  • Azolla, BSF technology needs to be upscaled, useful when drought exists
  • Research into the use of banana stems as livestock feed when drought conditions prevail (enhancing the nutritional content, and amount of fiber content in animal feed if high results in lower milk yields)
  • How to efficiently produce biogas (introduce new cultures of new bacteria)

Best practices and adaptation strategies for small-scale farmers from gender and social groups’ point of view

Women farmers

The women farmers in Central Highlands should be applauded for adopting new and sustainable techniques of farming. They have adopted diversification not only in production diversification but also in crop, livestock, and poultry to reduce the impacts of climate variability. They also practice water-conserving methods including the use of drip irrigation and mulch which are very important especially where rainfall is unpredictable. Moreover, they also contribute their time to community seed banks which involve the growing of local crops that are more resistant to pests and diseases within the region.

Men Farmers

Before, they engaged in the cultivation of cash crops and large animals but when climate conditions changed many among them moved to climate-smart farming. This involves practicing Agroforestry for the practice of both farming and tree planting which is crucial in the sequestration of carbon while at the same time improving the fertility and water-holding capacity of the soil. On their part, the men are now more involved in community water management practices which include putting up small dams and ponds for use during the dry seasons for irrigation.

Youth Farmers

It is the young people in the region who have taken it upon themselves to incorporate technology into farming. They are using technologies to anticipate the weather, marketing and mobile money in farming and agriculture. Young farmers are also interested in innovative technologies like using solar energy to power irrigation systems instead of relying on inconsistent electricity supplies and fuel. Also, they support vertical farming and hydroponics which can be practiced where the physical space is a limiting factor. These strategies show how farmers and other segments of the community are gradually developing new strategies for farming, which address the different facets of climate change.

Conclusion

Small-scale farmers in the Central Highland counties of Kenya demonstrate an agriculturally adaptive society through various methods. Employing novel strategies of adaptation to their respective target groups—women, water scarcity; men, agroforestry; youth, technology–these farmers are coming up in the fight against climate change. More funding and efforts should be made in research and cooperation to maintain and enhance those programs to guarantee the sustainability and advancement of agriculture in the region.

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