Non- Farm Activity Participation and Implications on Farmers’ Climate Change Adaptation in Kathonzweni Sub-County, Kenya

Everlyn Vaati Mutunga* PhD Student, Moi University, Kenya, Prof. Peter Isaboke Omboto, PhD 2Associate Professor of Environmental Economics, Moi University, Kenya
*Corresponding author: kalwendyvaati@gmail.com

Received March 5, 2018; Revised April 6, 2018; Accepted April 12, 2018

Abstract: Agriculture is the mainstay of many economies in the developing world. The sector, however, is facing a myriad of challenges, most notably, climate change and its associated risks. Unreliable and unpredictable rainfall patterns have continuously decimated agricultural productivity and overall household welfare. Therefore, many households are increasingly diversifying into the non-farm sector to supplement their agricultural income and thus adapt to climate change. With projections pointing to more frequent and severe climate change conditions, there is urgent need to develop and/or strengthen existing adaptation mechanisms. To this end, the current study focused on non-farm activities and climate change adaptation in Kathonzweni sub-county, an ASAL region in Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the nature, characteristics and significance of non-farm activities pursued by farmers in the study area in an effort to circumvent the effects of climate change. A descriptive survey design was employed while multistage sampling was used to determine the sample size of 313 from a population of 41878 households. Data collection was effected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Based on the study findings, nonfarm activities play an important role in household adaptability to climate change impacts. A Pearson correlation between various income and total household income established a strong positive correlation for non-farm income (r=0.873, p=0.000), a moderately positive correlation for farm income (r=0.474, p=0.00) and a weak positive correlation for ‘other’ sources of income (r=0.171, p=0.024). The study recommends increased government efforts in capacity building of rural populations as well as in the establishment of sustainable non-farm enterprises