Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Food Security in Kenya: a Case Study of Kisii County

Abstract

With key focus on increasing rate of climate disintegration in Kenya, this study sought to examine the link between climate change and food insecurity with a specific focus of Kisii County. The study was guided by three objective namely; to assess the impact of climate change on food security in Kenya, examine the effectiveness of policies to counter food insecurity in Kisii County and lastly and determine the link between climate change and food security in Kenya. This chapter therefore, covers summary of the key findings, presents conclusion and recommendations flowing from the three key objectives that guided the study. The study has identified that, in Kenya food insecurity and conflict are the most immediate impacts of climate change which manifest in terms of shrinking water catchment, decreased and delayed rains, floods, extreme hot temperatures and drying of water points. The study has discovered that the impacts of climate change are not even across the globe despite that climate change is itself a global phenomenon which requires international cooperation in order to water down its impacts. The study has found that a number of policies have been developed to address food insecurity challenges in Kisii County as a result of climate change. The policies have registered varying levels of effectiveness in ensuring food security in the County. The National Agricultural Sector Extension Policy was formulated to respond to the challenges that traditional public extension programs was facing in providing extension services to farmers in Kenya. Under the guidance of the policy, commercial extension initiatives in Kisii County has expanded in many agricultural areas through extension officers and has seen an increase in food productivity in the region. The Root and Tuber policy is designed to stimulate demand for cheaper food alternatives like cassava, arrow roots, potatoes, and in the long term achieve food security in the country. Its implementation in Kisii County has seen a rise in production of roots and tubers and has in turn enhanced food security in the county. The agricultural sector is known to be sensitive to variations in rainfall and temperature patterns but the sector which is responsible for food production also contributes an estimated ten to twelve percent of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. A number of studies indicate that climate change has affected agriculture and food security by shifting spatial and temporal distribution of rain, biodiversity, and terrestrial resources like water, and eventually impacting heavily on food security. With climate change, food security risks have multiplied because of the expected frequency and intensity of climate change related disasters and extremes. The effects of climate change are already evident in Kenya and surveys reveal that the national production of wheat and maize over the last two decades has declined, and that such a decline would not be witnessed if it were not for the effects of climate change.