Climate change is the greatest threat to the future and more specifically to the future of the agricultural sector. All parts of the Globe are experiencing these adverse impacts of climate change but with different intensity depending on the vulnerability levels. Kenya is among the countries that face severe impacts of climate change due to its high vulnerability index. The Coastal and Eastern regions of Kenya experience adverse climate challenges which affect agriculture, yet these regions significantly contribute to the Nation’s agriculture growth. Furthermore, people living in these regions rely on Agriculture. For instance, 20% of people on Mombasa rely on agriculture for a livelihood. Therefore, climate change poses a risk to food security, income and livelihoods of people. For these reasons, there has been need to study the adaptation techniques that farmers in these regions use. On this note, the AGNES in partnership with the Adaptation Research Alliance and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation held a 2-day co-creation workshop in Mombasa with the aim of understanding how farms have adapted to climate change and identifying key actionable-research areas that can be researched in bid to improve the resilience and adaption capacities of farmers in Eastern and Coastal regions of Kenya.
Climate Change risks in Eastern and Coastal Regions
The global problem of climate change has caused a change in weather patterns with the Coastal and Eastern regions experiencing prolonged drought that leads to frequent famine, increased temperatures that cause a rise in sea levels, erratic and heavy rainfall, poorly distributed rainfall, and increased incidences of hurricane and cyclone winds and currents. Increase in rainfall consequentially leads to flooding, land and mud slides, soil erosion and degradation. The secondary impact of these risks includes an increase in infestation of pests and diseases, human and wildlife conflict over natural resources and emergence of weeds that destroy crops.
Impacts of climate change risks on Coastal and Eastern agriculture
Different sectors of Agriculture face different impacts of the climate change risks. Farmers in these regions are engaged in crop farming, livestock farming and fisheries—all of which are affected by climate change.
Impacts on crop farming
Crop farmers in this regions, practice rainfed agriculture which is significantly affected by climate change. Fruits, vegetables, legumes and cereals grown in these regions require an even weather pattern for them to yield substantially. However, the fact that rainfall patterns are unpredictable, temperatures rise abnormally and there is drought, farmers struggle to keep up and often, their crops dry, die or get damaged. ‘
During prolonged dry seasons, farmers have to spend a lot of money to plant, yet they harvest very little. Apart from seeds and fertilizer, farmers have to set aside a budget for resources required to build effective irrigation systems to make up for the lack of adequate water during dry seasons. Dry conditions create a favourable environment for some pests and diseases resulting in additional expenses.
In some cases, farmers have to buy extra seeds that will be used for replanting upon growth failure owing to the dry conditions during drought. In addition, most of the seeds that manage to sprout and grow face stunted growth which implies that there will be diminished harvest. However, the positive impact is that farmers have now started diversifying their livelihoods while those who choose to maintain and expand their crop farming become more innovative
Often, when temperatures are abnormally high, crop farmers experience losses as fruit production drops due to flower abortions. In addition, high temperatures lead to production of low-quality fruits and at the same time some fruits spoil due to over-ripping caused by high temperatures.
Lastly, heavy rainfalls and rise in sea levels causes flooding that leads to losses. During flooding seasons, crops get damaged as water logs in the farms and weaken the stems and roots. Also, mud slides occur, and they destruct crops, sometimes causing deaths. There are also increased pest attacks on crops and increased diseases.
Livestock Farming
Livestock farmers have not been exempted from the loss that comes with change in climate that consequentially causes adverse weather events. Livestock such as cattle, camel and poultry become expensive to rear because the feeds are expensive and unavailable during dry seasons. Also, farmers’ income reduces due to reduction in productivity. During these seasons, cattle produce little milk while feed costs rise, hence livestock farming becomes unprofitable.
Fisheries
Artisanal fishing and fish farming are largely practised in these two regions. Many local people rely on it for their livelihood, yet climate change affects this economic activity. Due to climate change, drought, floods, extreme winds and tropical storms have become frequent in these regions, heavily impacting fish farming and artisanal fishing. During drought when the temperatures are abnormally high, fish food becomes limited and expensive while sometimes gets intoxicated by toxic invasive algae. This causes stunted growth which eventually leads to decreased fish harvest. Farmers experience losses because water from the ponds evaporate, depriving fish of enough water. Furthermore, the high temperatures are not conducive for cold rooms resulting to more losses due to spoilage of fish. Even so, most farmers are not able to afford the cold rooms that have become a necessity as temperatures rise beyond normal.
In areas like Lamu where artisanal fishing is largely practiced, the impacts of climate change are adverse. Most fish, like Tuna tend to move into the deeper parts of the oceans and lakes as they escape the high temperatures. In turn, this makes it hard for fishers to fish as they risk their lives fishing in the deep waters as they do not have modern fishing gears for such deep waters. Furthermore, strong winds and cyclones cause fatal accidents, reduction in fishing activities and loss of fishing vessels and gears. Similarly, during heavy rainfalls, these regions experience flooding which causes silting that affects fish inhabiting prawns and estuarine zones.
Change in gender roles owed to climate change impacts
Climate change has undoubtedly influenced the approach that men and women have in life, more specifically, their social view on gender roles in agriculture. Climate change has affected farming and economic activities encouraging changes in the traditional gender roles. Many women are shifting from crop farming to dairy farming which was initially male dominated. This is because crop farming depends on rain which has been affected by climate change. Also, both men and women are moving into alternative livelihoods due to the losses they experience in crop farming owed to climate change risks.
Women in the coastal and eastern region have had to find other means of supplementing their livelihood as climate change has negatively affected their previous livelihood. Currently women own boats for fishing to supplement their income and food security in their households. Similarly, youths have had an opportunity to engage in fish value-added chain. However, the unfortunate part is that many youths are uninterested in agriculture because currently unprofitable owing to the adverse weather events.
Early warning systems and agriculture adaptation techniques
Early warning systems
In the wake of climate change, locals have developed systems that they can use to predict weather and prepare for the upcoming weather event. Indigenous knowledge has played a big role in developing an early warning system even though it is an informal warning system. Farmers from different communities in the Coastal and Eastern region have different indigenous early warning techniques including bird migration which indicates either impending rainfall or drought or change in the direction of monsoon winds. When crabs emerge from dry lands, farmers say that it is a sign that heavy rainfall will be coming soon. Also, when some trees shed their leaves, farmers begin to plan for a dry season and put necessary systems in place like irrigation. However, when trees like acacia become green, it is a sign that there is going to be enough rain therefore it is safe for farmers to start planting. Other ways include different bird songs, insects’ movement, and flowering of some tree species.
Also, some farmers have astronomical knowledge which serves as an early warning system. The information so provided is typically gotten from the moon; farmers for instance would expect a bountiful harvest when the moon is circular. There are other modern early warning systems that are in place for farmers, including weather forecast information from Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), and advisory from agricultural departments and water resource association. However, farmers agreed that even though these systems exist, they are not effective and satisfactory.
Agriculture adaptation strategies in Coastal and Eastern regions
Effective Adaptation strategies used in crop farming
Crop farmers have been forced to become innovative and figure out ways of saving water for unpredictable prolonged dry seasons. Farmers have developed different water harvesting techniques like bench terraces, Zai pit, water pans and farm ponds for water harvesting to cope with reduced rainfall. Also, farmers have embraced mulching which helps reduce the rate of evaporation during dry seasons. In addition, they also plant trees like pawpaw and cassava around the farm, encouraging groundwater recharge and retention when it rains.
Also, during both rainy and dry seasons, there are many pests and diseases that have forced farmers to come up with cheaper and safer ways to control them. They use organific pesticides such as boiled garlic water sprayed to prevent insects like termites from infesting on their crops. They also grow grass around vegetables to trap insects
Effective Adaptation strategies used in Livestock Farming
Since climate change has made livestock farming a bit expensive, farmers are shifting from large scale cattle to rearing to goats and poultry that are cheaper to rear. Farmers also preserve Fodder for future use during droughts. Furthermore, farmers choose to sell their livestock when they foresee drought saving themselves from losses.
Fisheries adaptation strategies
Fish farmers are also coming up with ways to cut on the ever-increasing cost of feeding fish that is attributed to by climate change. They are now producing fish food as opposed to purchased fish food to reduce input costs. Farmers are also deliberately conserving coral reefs, fish breeding grounds, through Beach Management Units (BMU). In addition, fishers are re-planting and conservation of mangrove which act as food for crabs. Also, they use early warning advisory to guide fishing expeditions
Call to Action: Priority research areas
It will be effective for researchers to pay close attention to the specific actionable research areas suggested by farmers in Coastal and Eastern Region. Fish farmers suggested that there is need for research to be done about the breeding patterns of different types of fish reared and fished in these regions. In addition, there is need to find ways of increasing production by researching on how to enhance breeding in aquaculture fish farming Also, fish rearing is being embraced and it can be more effective when research reveals ways in which locally led cage technologies can be made effective as well as providing more information about them.
Crop farmers also suggested that there is need for researchers to focus on seasonality for variety of crop and determine how these can be improved to enhance productivity and prolong their lifespan especially for annual crops. Also, due to climate change, there has been an emergence of new pests and diseases that require research on how to control them. On the same note, there is need research organic ways of controlling these pests and diseases and determine how inorganic pesticides can be used without destroying the environment.
Since climate change is here with us and will stay for a long time, it necessitates research on genetic traits of plant crops that make them adapt to climate change. In addition, there is need to research and discover a framework of reclassifying of Agro-climatic zones.
Poultry farmers also raised concerns on how poultry growth is dependent on many chemicals and requested that researchers research on less chemical dependent poultry and how to improve output in poultry farming