Assessing resilient agriculture-based Livelihoods: A case of conservation agriculture in Kanthonzweni sub-county

Abstract

Exposure to climate variability and extremes, most particularly drought, poses a substantial risk to people living in ASALs. A number of interventions on sustainable land use, livelihood and environmental management have been promoted in Makueni County to enable households build resilience to stresses of drought and other climatic variations. With the increasing trend in drought occurrences, there is need for evidence on the characteristics of agriculture-dependent communities that have proven resilient to past climate variability which is lacking at the household and community levels. This study identified characteristics of climate variability resilient farmers, land use approaches and practices that significantly contribute to increased livelihood resilience and examined factors influencing the capacity to develop and maintain resilient livelihoods. It also identified policy options for enhancing resilient livelihoods. The study adopted a survey design. Literature review, face to face interviews, observation and photography were used to collect data. The target population consisted of all farming households in Kathonzweni and Mavindini Divisions and service providers from all relevant institutions. Using multiple sampling strategies that included census of CA farmers, systematic random sampling for TT farmers and simple random sampling for NT farmers. A total of 138 households consisting of 46 conservation agriculture farmers (CA), 46 trained but not practicing farmers (TT) and 46 not trained and not practicing farmers (NT) were sampled. Two focus group discussions were undertaken per category of farmers making a total of six. Local leaders and extension service providers were purposively identified and interviewed as key informants on farmer resilience. Households with resilient livelihoods were identified as those with food access, financial security, entitlements in term of assets and sufficient human capital. Farmers in Makueni grow their own food which is supplemented through diversified income sources, not only in crops, but also in other livelihood sources such as remittances. T-tests for comparison of means indicated that CA farmers had significantly higher access to food than TT and NT farmers. They also had higher financial security, remittances and better human resource capital that contribute immensely to food production. Overall, CA was identified as a technique that has very high potential to improve yields, income, environmental conservation and in the long term lead to increased household livelihood resilience. Drought was ranked as the main factor limiting farmers’ ability to develop and sustain resilient livelihoods. The study recommends increased promotion of CA, diversified income sources through land use planning that allocates various enterprises optimally. Techniques such as sub-soiling, ripping, terracing and growing of drought tolerant crops that have proven to assist farmers to raise their agricultural output should be promoted through increased acreage under these techniques. The study also recommends construction of a dam at Thwake River to facilitate rain water harvesting for irrigation during drought. Key word: Resilient, Vulnerability, Land use, Sustainable livelihood, Poverty, Drought, Conservation Agriculture