Determinants of Access and Use of Climate Information Services Among Smallholder Farmers in Makueni County,Kenya

University of Nairobi

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Abstract: Globally climate change has been a major constraint towards achieving food security,poverty reduction and sustainable agricultural development. Therefore,adaptation to climate change is imperative to reduce farmers' vulnerability to climate-related risks. Climate information services have been recommended as prerequisite tools towards the adoption of adaptation strategies to curb climate vagaries in Africa. While the production and provision of climate information services (CIS) in Kenya has increased,their accessibility and application in farm decision making against climate risks have been limited. Although addressing the various constraints that limit the use of this information could increase farmer's adaptive capacity,the factors that affect both access and use of CIS in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya have not been comprehensively documented. Therefore,this study analysed the determinants of access and the utilisation of CIS among smallholder farmers in Makueni County. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires administered on 250 households. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers,the various climate information services accessed,their dissemination channels and usefulness in farm decision making. Heckprobit model was used to analyse both the determinants of access and use of CIS in farm decision making. The results showed that majority of households interviewed relied on mixed farming as the main source of livelihood. 77.4 percent of households interviewed had access to climate information services and radio was the main dissemination channel followed by television and newspapers. The main climate information services accessed by farmers were seasonal climate information,the forecast of extreme events and indigenous forecast.