African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6901

Full Length Research Paper

Implications of climate change and variability on food security in Kenya

Irene Nambuya Musebe
  • Irene Nambuya Musebe
  • Bunda College, University of Malawi, P. O. Box 219 Lilongwe, Malawi.
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Abdi-Khalil Edriss
  • Abdi-Khalil Edriss
  • Bunda College, University of Malawi, P. O. Box 219 Lilongwe, Malawi.
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Beston Billy Maonga
  • Beston Billy Maonga
  • Bunda College, University of Malawi, P. O. Box 219 Lilongwe, Malawi.
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Harwick Tchale
  • Harwick Tchale
  • World Bank, Accra, Ghana.
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Steven Mbogo
  • Steven Mbogo
  • Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 20153 Nairobi, Kenya.
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Richard Onyango Musebe
  • Richard Onyango Musebe
  • Department of Development Studies, Moi University, P.O Box 3900 Eldoret, Kenya.
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  •  Received: 08 March 2018
  •  Accepted: 05 June 2018
  •  Published: 23 August 2018

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of climate change and climate variability on food security in Kenya based on a sample size of 270 farmers randomly selected from semi-arid agro-ecological zones in Kenya. Both primary and secondary data were used in the present study. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and regression models. The results revealed that increase in temperature and reduction in rainfall had significant effect (p<0.01) on food security in Kenya. Increase in the amount of rainfall by 1 mm in the semi-arid areas enhanced food security by 0.01 kg while increase in maximum temperatures by 1°C reduced food security among households by 0.03 kg. Further, food security of Kenya is affected by increase in temperature and decline in rainfall. One unit increase in temperature would cause USD 3.9 million worth of value to become at risk as compared to USD 118,942 worth when rainfall decreased by 1 mm. Overall, the value at risk in the Kenyan economy is USD 112,351,112.46.

Key words: Food security, climate change, temperature, rainfall, risk.

 

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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