Effects of Perceived Climate Variability on Provisioning Ecosystem Services Among Agro-Pastoral Systems of Laikipia West Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The impact of climate variability on societies around the world is increasingly evident. A vast majority of communities in Eastern Africa depend on agro-pastoralism for their livelihoods, however climate variability threatens a vast majority of these communities. Kenya is one of the most vulnerable countries and economic sectors and livelihoods frequently experience the manifestations of the problem. Climate variability therefore, affects provision of ecosystem services, especially those depended on by agro-pastoral farmers in Laikipia West sub-County, Kenya. This study determined the effects of perceived climate variability on provisioning ecosystem services (food supply/crop yield, livestock production and water availability) and response strategies employed by agro-pastoral farmers to mitigate risks in semi-arid Laikipia West sub-County. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a combination of methods including: systematic quadrat sampling, key informant interviews and structured questionnaires. The study used multistage stratified sampling to select respondents and study sites; purposive sampling to select the study divisions and proportionate random sampling to select household respondents from each of the selected divisions. Four hundred agro-pastoral farmer households were selected through stratified random sampling. Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) was used for data analysis. To make reliable inferences from the data, all statistical tests were verified at α = 0.05 level of significance. Results from the study indicated that majority of the agro-pastoral farmers kept poultry and browsers as they required less feed for survival during these times of climate variability and change. Climate variability resulted to decline in food supply/crop yields and water availability had increased yet its amount declined. Climate variability negatively affected provisioning ecosystem services like food supply/crop yield and water availability. The study recommends that, there is need for sensitization on climate smart agricultural practices that would increase food supply and enhance water availability sustainably.

Key Words— Perceived Climate Variability, Provisioning Ecosystem Services, Agro-Pastoral Systems, Laikipia West Sub-County, Kenya.