Climate Smart Agriculture in Kenya: Challenges and Opportunities

Kenya Climate Change Working Group Association (KCCWG)

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Abstract: Kenya heavily relies on agriculture towards meeting the demands of its population, which in 2011, was 41,609,728 compared to 2009-population census figure of 38,610,097. Agriculture sector contributes about 28.5% of the GDP arising from the 9.7% of total land area that is considered arable. Mixed farming is the most common system applied by farmers due to the small portions of land available for cultivation in regions with reliable rainfall. Recurrent droughts and erratic floods are common with shifts in weather patterns being experienced. Farming practices by many small-scale farmers are unsustainable hence the quest for capacity building on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) applications. According to the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS), poor livestock management practices have caused the sector to contribute to one-third of total national greenhouse gas emissions(GHG). Human power is the most common form of farm power with fossil powered machines in isolated cases. Reforms have been witnessed in the policy framework seeking to improve the sector. This brief will therefore explore the milestones Kenya has undertaken or should undertake towards ensuring agricultural productivity in the midst of climate variability and change