Vulnerability and Adaptation to Food Insecurity and Poverty in Kenya

Abstract

Poor and hungry populations are less resilient to stress and disasters and rely a great deal on the natural environment, as they lack the capacity and the resources required to recover from disasters. The current projected climatic change is likely to have a great impact among food-insecure and poor populations due to the projected effects on food availability, water resources, and health, as well as accessibility to infrastructural services, which is minimal, if not lacking completely, among vulnerable and poor households. This article discusses livelihoods and ways of reducing vulnerability to climate change–related disasters to increase adaptation to future impacts of climate change in Nyando and similar medium potential areas of Kenya, where major impacts are expected. The study used both primary and secondary data; used various sampling techniques; and employed analytical techniques such as multiple correlation and regression analysis, stepwise multiple regression analysis, principal components analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. The findings of this research revealed that in terms of food security, poverty was the main contributor to food insecurity, although climate complicated the issue, with the health of the farmer and her experience emerging as the most important in the fight against food insecurity among smallholder farmers. As part of the conclusion, it was recommended that to deal with food insecurity and poverty, policies must emphasize increased food production using suitable environmental conservation techniques to adapt to climate change while also encouraging sustainable livelihood systems.