Author : Muriithi et al., 2020
Keyword : Climate variability; adaptation strategies; crop insurance; binary logit model
Subject : Environmental
Article Type : Original article (research)
DOI : https://doi.org/10.24203/ajafs.v8i4.6262
Article File : Full Text PDF
Abstract : Kenya is one of the many countries in Sub Saharan Africa affected by climate variability and its related hazards due to changes in temperature and variations in rainfall in most parts of the country. The present study has been undertaken to assess the adaptation strategies applied by the small scale farmers in response to climate variability in Nyandarua County. The study has been conducted in central region of Kenya which is relatively humid and good for agricultural production. A total sample size of 300 respondents from five sub counties was used to collect the primary data through the random sampling technique. Descriptive Likert analysis and Inferential binary logit regression was used to assess the factors affecting the willingness to adopt crop insurance to mitigate the risks of variability of climate on crop farming. The results of the study indicate that adoption of crop insurance scored very low in relation to other adaptation strategies. The logit regression model on the other hand revealed that age and marital status was positively significant with willingness to adopt crop insurance while the marginal effects of levels of income and monthly income implied that the likelihood of willingness to adapt crop insurance increased by 1.32 times and 13.3 percent respectively. Based on the study findings, if small scale farmers are well supported to adopt crop insurance, then this adaptation strategy can be among the most effective strategies in Kenya. However, due to low adaptive capacity, more awareness needs to be created on the importance and procedures of obtaining the specific agricultural insurance covers. The study concludes that modern adaptation approaches are important in presence of formal crop insurance policies especially in the rural areas of Kenya.
Article by : David Ikua Muriithi
Article add date : 2020-11-12
How to cite : Muriithi et al., 2020. (2020-November-12). Characterization of small scale farmers’ low levels of adoption to crop insurance as an adaptation strategy to climate variability in nyandarua county of kenya. retrieved from https://openacessjournal.com/abstract/362