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Impact of climate change adaptation on food security: evidence from semi-arid lands, Kenya

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Abstract

The management of rangelands, including climate change adaptation strategies, is primarily responsible for stimulating livestock productivity, which consequently improves food security. This paper investigates the impact of climate change adaptations on food security among pastoralists in semi-arid parts of Kenya, who have not received due attention to date. Using an endogenous switching regression model, the current study revealed that pastoralists’ food security increased significantly when they employed measures to adapt to climate change. The study results also showed that wealthier households and those with more livestock were more food-secure than comparatively poorer households or those with less livestock. Furthermore, the study uncovered a high prevalence of food security among more educated households. The paper therefore recommends that, in Kenya’s semi-arid lands, where pastoralism is the primary means of livelihood, policies advocating adaptations to climate change should be strengthened. Also fundamental to building pastoralists’ adaptation strategies are the consistent monitoring of climate change, the use of early warning systems, and the communication of pertinent information to farmers—and particularly to pastoralists.

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Acknowledgements

This data used in this study was supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) through the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) project led by Overseas Development Institute (ODI). We also would like to thank the editor, the editorial staff, and the three anonymous reviewers for comments and suggestions. In addition, we gratefully thank Sandie Fitchat who provided valuable help with language editing through the generous support of Jesper Stage and Luleå University of Technology, Sweden. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the donors’ or authors’ institutions. The usual disclaimer applies.

Funding

The data used in this study was supported by the UK Department for International Development and the International Development Research Centre in Canada through the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) project led by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

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Authors

Contributions

S. Wagura Ndiritu—conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing of original draft, review, and editing; Geoffrey Muricho—methodology.

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Correspondence to S. Wagura Ndiritu.

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Consent to participate

Consent was sought from the respondents to participate in the survey. The following was read to the participant:

Hello,

Thank you for agreeing to speak with me. My name is [enumerator name]. I am here on behalf of [institute name].

We are conducting a survey in the context of Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE). This interview is not mandatory, but your answers to these questions are what will make our study successful. Your views are important and will help us to generate research findings and learn lessons about the climate shocks in the livestock sector. This information would help inform the investments and policies in the sector.

We selected the producers randomly for the survey and would like to talk to you for about one-and-a-half hours to collect information that is set out in this questionnaire.

We will be conducting the same survey in other communities in this group ranch and throughout Laikipia County as well as in other counties.

We value confidentiality and we will ensure that all the answers you provide will be kept confidential. We will not be using any device to record this interview and we will not share this information with anyone outside PRISE researchers.

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The authors declare no competing interest.

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Ndiritu, S.W., Muricho, G. Impact of climate change adaptation on food security: evidence from semi-arid lands, Kenya. Climatic Change 167, 24 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-03180-3

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