Diversification : a safety net for Kenya's dryland farmers in the face of climate change

Crop diversification supports income, food, and nutrition security under climate change. By allocating 10% more of their arable land to food crop production, research findings showed that households improved their food security by 18%. Supplementing animal feeds with crops and crop residues increased feed supplies by 8%. On average, due to the program successes, 40% of the farmers sought climate information in order to make decisions on food production. To enhance income and food security, county governments should invest in competent extension services, farmer field schools and demonstration centers, and as well, support seed multiplication and distribution of improved, climate-resilient crop varieties

Adapting dryland livestock production to meet climate change challenges in Kenya

Research demonstrates that with one acre of Sudan grass and improved pasture production, farmers may produce 3.6 tons of feed in a year. This will sustain milk production by three cattle during the annual four-month feed deficit period, and the milk can sustain a family of four. With a strengthened extension service and support for farmers in acquiring adapted livestock breeds, specifically camels, Sahiwal and improved Boran cattle, livestock productivity can be increased by 50% and herd sizes reduced, which decreases overgrazing and environmental degradation. County governments can support these changes by strengthening their extension work in pasture production, organized grazing, and controlled breeding management

Carbon footprint of smallholder rain-fed sorghum cropping systems of Kenya: A typology-based approach

Agricultural ecosystems are the main sources of soil-atmosphere exchange (methane-CH4, Carbon dioxide-CO2 and Nitrous oxide -N2O) in sub-Saharan African countries, including Kenya. To feed the ever-growing population, there is a need to identify agricultural management practices to increase food production while reducing GHG emissions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This study aimed to estimate the GHG balance at the farm scale and identify environmental hotspots and mitigation opportunities among smallholder sorghum farms in Western Kenya. The study hypothesized that different intensification levels influenced the GHG balance. The study collected data from 300 smallholder farms in western Kenya. The principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were used for farm typologies construction. Five farm types were constructed that ranged from no or minimal external inputs and highly intensified, small to large, and low to highly endowed in tropical livestock units. The Cool Farm Tool Excel program model was used to estimate GHG balances. that the sorghum cropping systems were net sinks of soil GHGs. The GHG balance, carbon footprint, and monetary footprint significantly varied across the farm types at p = 0.025, p = 0.018, and p = 0.004, respectively. The GHG balance ranged from – 818.76 kg CO2 eq. ha−1 in manure-intensive and low fertilizer-intensity small farms to 174.29 kg CO2 eq. ha−1 in fertilizer-intensive and moderate manure application rates on small farms. Fertilizer production and direct and indirect emissions (fertilizer application) were the environmental hotspots accounting for 63 and 30 % of the GHG emissions. The carbon and monetary footprints ranged from -1.29 to 0.45 kg CO2 eq. kg sorghum −1 and -2.02 to 0.13 kg CO2 eq. US$−1 generated, respectively. The study established that sorghum cropping systems in Kenya produced limited greenhouse gas emissions

PERCEPTIONS OF TEACHERS ON MEDIA USE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ENGLISH IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KAKAMEGA EAST, SUB COUNTY, KENYA

Media enhanced interest of learners enlivened the classroom and improved learning outcome. Despite use of media in teaching and learning, English language registered dismal performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in Kakamega East Sub-County, Kenya. The decline was attributed to inappropriate and non-use of media in the curriculum. The purpose of the study was to establish perceptions of teachers on media use in teaching and learning of English language in public secondary schools in Kakamega East Sub-County. Specific objective of the study was to establish: perceptions of teachers on media use in teaching and learning of English language. The study revealed that teaching while incorporating appropriate media enhanced academic performance in the curriculum. The study used descriptive survey design. Romiszowski (1992) Conceptual Framework was used to establish perceptions of teachers on media use in teaching and learning of English language. The study population consisted of 23 head teachers, 46 teachers of English and 1500 Form Two students. Saturated sampling technique was used to select a sample of 20 head teachers and 40 teachers of English. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 500 Form Two students. Piloting of instruments was done on 10% of the population. Research instruments were questionnaire, document analysis guide, observation schedule and interview schedule. Content validity was attained by presenting research instruments to three experts in Department of Educational Communication Technology and Curriculum Studies. Quantitative data was collected from closed questionnaire items which were tallied and presented using frequency counts, percentages and means. Qualitative data was transcribed and organized into categories, subcategories and themes. The findings of the study showed that media use enabled learners to conceptualize abstract concepts and increased rate of retention in the curriculum. The study therefore recommended that teachers should use media appropriately to improve learning outcome in teaching and learning of English language.  Article visualizations

Tools and Techniques for Assessing Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Agricultural Systems

This training program is aimed at introducing tools that aid in understanding trends and impacts of climate behaviour and climate change. The overall goal is to develop professional expertise in climate data usage through tools that assist in assessing climate variability, and to promote application of weather- and climate-based products in agricultural and natural resource management. The target audience is researchers and students involved in climate change adaptation research, and the Kenya meteorological staff attached to the CALESA project and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) KARI-IDRC funded projects on climate change

Assessing climate induced risks to rainfed crop production in arid and semi arid Kenya : a case study of the lower Tana basin

Historical rainfall patterns with direct relevance to rainfed crop production are monitored for the lower Tana basin of Kenya to assess risks to crop production. Long term daily rainfall from six weather stations and key crop yields are analysed. Approximately 70 percent of this area receives mean rainfall of below 500 mm, posing a strong risk to rainfed crop production. Cassava and mangoes production are exceptionally resilient to changing climate. Farmers should maximize production opportunities of climate resilient crops, while the government creates appropriate policies to address marketing and value addition

Communication and Policy Influence Strategy - Agricultural Productivity and Climate Change in Arid and Semi-Arid Kenya [Annex 3]

This three-year project (2011-2014) aims at building capacity for Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) to undertake climate change adaptation studies within the agricultural context. The research results will be utilized in developing adaptation strategies in the three ASAL districts of Kenya; Transmara, Ijara and Tana Delta. The Annex includes a detailed implementation plan