Contributions of socioeconomic, cultural and institutional factors on climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Homa bay county, Kenya

Abstract

Climate change poses significant challenges to smallholder farmers globally, particularly agricultural production in developing countries. This makes it necessary for agricultural systems to adapt to climate change effects. However, smallholder farmers have limited capacity or resources to adapt to climate change. Studies have provided insights into particular adaptation strategies and impacts, but remains unclear to what extent socioeconomic, cultural and institutional factors contribute to the choice of climate change adaptation strategies at household level. The main objective of this study was to assess the contributions of socioeconomic, cultural and institutional factors on choice of climate change adaptation strstegies by smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County. The specific objectives were to establish the contribution of socioeconomic factors (land size, gender, age, marital status, educational level) on choice of climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County; determine the contribution of cultural factors (place attachment, cultural and religious beliefs) on choice of climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County; find out the contribution of indigenous local knowledge (Farming experience, climate change experience) on choice of climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County; and to examine the contribution of local institutions (group membership, types of institutions) on choice of climate change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County. The study used cross sectional survey design and a sample size of 398 smallholder farming households out of a target population of 158,827 smallholder faming households in the study area. Quantitative data were collected using a structured household questionnaire administered to 398 household heads and qualitative data were collected using interview schedule administered to 24 key informants and focus group discussions administered to 12 groups. Quantitative data were analysed using frequencies percentages, cross-tabulation and Chi-square test of independence at 5% significance level. The Cramer’s V coefficient of effect size was used to measure the contributions of these factors on choice of climate change adaptation strategies. Qualitative data were analysed thematically based on study objectives. The results revealed that the socioeconomic factors with very strong statistically significant contribution to choice of climate change adaptation strategies included marital status (V= 0.257), household size (V=0.268), while size of farm (V=0.194) and source of farm labour (V=0.219) had strong contribution to choice of climate change adaptation strategies. Cultural factors with very strong contribution included level of attachment to place of residence (V= 0.372), family order in farm operations (V= 0.272) and religious beliefs (V= 0.412), to the choice of climate change adaptation strategies. Indigenous knowledge factors with very strong contribution included farming experience (V=0.250) and climate change experience (V=0.338), while duration of stay in the study area (V=0.232) had a strong contribution to choice of climate change adaptation strategies. The institutional factors with strong contribution included sponsorship by local institutions (V=0.195) and types of assistance received (V=0.181). The study concluded that the four factors (socioeconomic factors. cultural factors, indigenous local knowledge and local institutions) examined significantly contributed to choice of change adaptation strategies by smallholder farmers in the study area. However, culture was found to be central and had an influence on the effect of all the four factors in determining the choice of climate change adaptation strategies. The study recommended the need to strengthen cultural practices that enhance climate change adapyatio. Development of agricultural production should consider the socioeconomic, cultural and institutional factors contributing to climate change adaptation at household level for improved household food security in the study area.