Revisiting Climate Change Mitigation Potential in Smallholder Farming Systems in Kenya
Abstract:
In a country where Agriculture fuels both livelihoods and economic growth, understanding the dynamics of small holder farming systems is essential for addressing Kenya’s food security challenges. This study, carried out in the Nyando region of Kisumu County in Western Kenya, intends to explore the potential of smallholder farming systems to mitigate climate change by analyzing extensive data collected in 2012. As a first step, agricultural man agement was investigated in the area. Field surveys and interviews were used to gain information on agricultural management and establish a farm typology; the variables here are the crop type, the use of fertilizer, the location of the household with reference to the farm, other vegetation as well as different management practices such as intercropping. The majority of crops grown in the (lowlands) KK1 are woodlots whereas in the slopes (KK2), the most common crops are sugarcane. On the other hand, in KK3, the highlands, bananas are most common. Addi tionally, the use of fertilizers is high in KK3 and lowest in KK1. A lot of erosion is observed in the lowlands,(KK1), as compared to in the highlands, of KK3, where it is less. Various grazing management techniques are used such as rotational grazing. Burning, as a farm practice, was only utilized by 0.73% of farmers to control weeds, sug gesting a move towards more sustainable methods. Intercropping was also used such as sorghum and maize. The study emphasizes the significance of organic soil amendments, improved land tenure security, and sustainable land management.
