American Journal of Environmental Protection

| Peer-Reviewed |

Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptations on Horticultural Land Use Practices around Mt. Kenya East Region

Received: 27 February 2017    Accepted: 13 April 2017    Published: 16 March 2018
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

Eastern slopes of Mount Kenya experienced widespread horticultural crop production after the establishment of Horticultural Crops Development Agency (HCDA) packing facilities within the region in the early 2000s. Favourable soils and climatic conditions triggered by growing export market demands have led to the changing patterns of agricultural land use practices in Mt. Kenya east region. The focus is now shifting to agro-diversification and land use intensification practices. The growing horticultural farming business in this region is impacting subsistence production, resource use as well as livelihood dynamics. This paper assesses the implications of climate change adaptation measures on household food security, gender roles and land management activities within the context of horticultural produce land use practices. The findings ascertain that the region’s increasing agro-diversification activities are both coping strategies to the climate related changes and the social, political as well as economic transformations ushered in by devolution.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11
Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2018)
Page(s) 1-6
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

References
[1] Alec Sithole and Cyril T. F. Murewi (2009) Climate variability and change over southern Africa: impacts and challenges. African Journal of Ecology, 47(1), 17–20.
[2] Baltenweck, I., Staal, S., Ibrahim, M. N. M., Herrero, M., Holmann, F., and Jabbar, M., (2003). Crop-livestock intensification and interactions across three continents: Main report. System-wide Livestock Program (SLP) project on trans regional analysis of crop-livestock systems. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI. p. 118.
[3] Bebe, B. O., Udo, H. M. J., Rowlands, G. J., and Thorpe, W. (2003). Smallholder dairy systems in the Kenya highlands: breed preferences and breeding practices. Livestock Production Science, 82: 117–127.
[4] Bryan, E., Silvestri, S., Ringler, C., Herrero, M., and Okoba, B., (2013). Adapting agriculture to climate change in Kenya: Household strategies and determinants. Journal of Environmental Management 114: 26-35.
[5] Bryan, E., Deressa, T., Gbetibouo, G., and Ringler, C., (2009). Adaptation to climate change in Ethiopia and South Africa: options and constraints. Environmental Science and Policy, 12 (4).27-38.
[6] Chamberlin, J.(2013). Market Access and Smallholder Development in Kenya and Zambia. Unpublished Ph. D. Dissertation, Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
[7] Chelang’a, P. K., Obare, G.A and Kimenju,S.C (2013). Analysis of Urban Consumers’ Willingness to Pay a Premium for African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) in Kenya: a Case of Eldoret Town. Food Security, 5 (4), 591-595.
[8] Conelly, W. T. (1994). Population pressure, labor availability, and agricultural disintensification: the decline of agriculture on Rusinga Island, Kenya. Human Ecology, 22(2): 145–170.
[9] Conelly, W. T., and Chaiken, M. S. (2000). Intensive farming, Agro-Diversity, and Food Security under Conditions of Extreme Population Pressure in Western Kenya. Human Ecology, 28(1) 19-51.
[10] Constitution of Kenya. (2010). The Constitution of Kenya. Nairobi. Government printer.
[11] Dannenberg, P. and Nduru, G. M. (2015): Regional Linkages in the Kenyan Horticultural Industry. – In: Dannenberg, P. & Kulke, E. (eds.), Economic Development in Rural Areas: Functional and Multifunctional Approaches, p. 15–34. Ashgate Publishing, Farn ham.
[12] Dannenberg, P., Kunze, M. and Nduru, G. M. (2011): Isochronal Map of Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Transportation from the Mt. Kenya Region to Nairobi. Journal of Maps,7: 273–279.
[13] Dannerberg. P, and Nduru Gilbert. M., (2012). Practices in international value chains: the case of the Kenyan fruit and vegetable chain beyond the exclusion debate. Royal Dutch Geographical Society, 104: 41-56.
[14] Godfray, H. C. J., Beddington, J. R., Crute, I. R., Haddad, L., Lawrence, D., and Muir, J. F. (2010). Food security: the challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science, 327: 812-818.
[15] Government of the Republic of Kenya. (2012.) Vision 2030 Development Strategy for Northern Kenya and the Arid Lands. Retrieved from http://www.disaster risk reduction.net.pdf. Accessed on July 20, 2013.
[16] Howden, S. M., Soussana, J. F., Tubiello, F. N., Chetri, N., Dunlop, M., and Meinke, H., (2007). Adapting agriculture to climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 (50), 19691-19696.
[17] Jaetzold, R., and Schmidt, H.,(1982). Farm Management Handbook of Kenya. Volume II. Parts A, B and C. Ministry of Agriculture in Cooperation with German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Nairobi.
[18] Jätzold, R., Schmidt, H., Hornetz, B. and Shisanya, C. (2006): Farm Management Handbook of Kenya. Vol. II: Natural Conditions and Farm Management Information, Part C: East Kenya, Subpart C 1, Eastern Province: 571 S., Nairobi.
[19] Jenkins, S (2012). Ethnicity, violence, and the immigrant-guest metaphor in Kenya. Africa Affairs 111 (445), 576-596.
[20] Jianhua He a, b, Yaolin Liu a, b Yan Yu c, Wenwu Tang d, e, Weining Xiang d, f, and Dianfeng Liu., (2013). A counterfactual scenario simulation approach for assessing the impact of farmland preservation policies on urban sprawl and food security in a major grain-producing area of China. Applied Geography 37: 127-138.
[21] Jin, S., and Jayne, T. S. (2013). Land rental markets in Kenya: implications for efficiency, equity, household income, and poverty. Land Economics, 89 (2), 246-271.
[22] Kanyinga, Karuti (2009). The legacy of the white highlands: land rights, ethnicity, and post-2007 election violence in Kenya. Journal of Contempary African Studies. 27 (3), 325-344.
[23] Kibetu, D. K, Nyaga. P, Mwangi. J. M and Muchiri. D (2015). Analysing the Dynamics of Spatial Interaction and Socio-Economic Transformations around Chuka University, Main Campus Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques in the proceedings of the 2nd International Chuka university Research conference, 28-30th, October 2015, Chuka.
[24] Krishna, A., Kristjanson, P., Radeny, M., and Nindo, W. (2004). Escaping poverty and becoming poor in 20 Kenyan villages. Journal of Human Development, 5(2), 211-226.
[25] Kristjanson, P., Mango, N., Krishna, A., Radeny, M., and Johnson, N. (2009). Understanding poverty dynamics in Kenya. Journal of International Development 22 (7), 978-996.
[26] Lambin, E. F., Geist, H. J. & Lepers, E. (2003): Dynamics Of land-Use And land-Cover change In tropical regions. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 28: 205–241.
[27] Little, P. D., K. Smith, B. A. Cellarius, D. L. Coppock and C. B. Barrett (2001) Avoiding Disaster: Diversification and Risk Management among East African Herders. Development and Change.,33 (3), 401-433.
[28] Marcia., M. C, Maria., I. M, and S. G. Hallett. (2016). Market Barriers Faced by Formal and Informal Vendors of African Leafy Vegetables in Western Kenya. Journal of Food Distribution Research ,47 (I3), 49-60.
[29] McCord, P. F., Cox, M., Schmitt-Harsh, M. and Evans, T. (2015): Crop diversification as a smallholder livelihood strategy within semi-arid agricultural systems near Mount Kenya. Land Use Policy, 42: 738-750.
[30] McCulloch, N. & Ota, M. (2002): Export horticulture and poverty in Kenya: IDS Working Paper 174: 1–34, Brighton (Institute of Development Studies).
[31] Mithöfer, D., E. Nang’ole & S. Asfaw (2008), Small holder Access to the Export Market: The Case of Vegetables in Kenya. Outlook on Agriculture, 37: 203-211.
[32] Muyanga, M. & Jayne, T. S. (2014): Effects of rising rural population density on smallholder agriculture in Kenya. Food Policy, 48: 98–113.
[33] Mwangi, T. (2008), Impact of Private Agrifood Standards on Smallholder Incomes in Kenya. Nairobi: Kenya Horticultural Development Programme.
[34] Neven, D., M. M. Odera, T. Reardon, and H. Wang. (2009). “Kenyan Supermarkets, Emerging Middle-Class Horticultural Farmers, and Employment Impacts on the Rural Poor.” World Development 37 (11), 1802-1811.
[35] Ouma, S. (2010), Global Standards, Local Realities: Private Agrifood Governance and the Restructuring of the Kenyan Horticulture Industry. Economic Geography, 86: 197–222.
[36] Pearce, J., Ngwira, A., Chimseu, G., 1996. Living on the Edge. Save the Children UK, London.
[37] Porter, G. (2007): Transport planning in sub-Saharan Africa. Progress in Development Studies7: 251-257.
[38] Schlenker, W., Lobell, D. B., (2010). Robust negative impacts of climate change on African agriculture. Environmental Research Letters,5 (1).
[39] Slaymaker, O., Spencer, T., & Embleton-Hamann, C. (2009). Geomorphology and global environmental change. New York: Cambridge University Press.
[40] The Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG) (2008). “The Impact of Rising Food Prices on Disparate Livelihood Groups in Kenya.” Retrieved from http://documents.wfp.org.pdf.Accessed JUNE 22, 2013.
[41] Tilman, D., Balzer, C., Hill, J., & Befort, B. L. (2011). From the cover: global food demand and the sustainable intensification of Agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academic of Sciences, 108: 20260-20264.
[42] Van de Steeg, J. A., Verburg., P. H, Baltenweck, I and Staal., S. J (2010). Characterization of the spatial distribution of farming systems in the Kenyan Highlands. Journal of Applied Geography , 30: 239-253.
[43] Waitathu, N. (2008), Kenyan Horticulture: Weathering the Political Storm? New Agriculturist. Available at http://www.new-agri.co.uk. Accessed on 24th April 2009.
[44] Willkomm, M., Vierneisel, B and Dannerberg. P (2016) Land use change dynamics in the Mt. Kenya region: a remotely sensed analysis using Rapid Eye satellite images. Zbl. Geol. Paläont. Teil I, 1: 23–40.
Author Information
  • Department of Arts and Humanities, Chuka University, Chuka, Kenya

  • Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Eastern Africa Baraton, Eldoret, Kenya

  • Digital Mapping Section, Galaxy Geo-Consultancy Services Inc, Embu, Kenya

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kibetu Dickson Kinoti, Colbert Mutiso Jackson, Mwangi Joyce Muthoni. (2018). Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptations on Horticultural Land Use Practices around Mt. Kenya East Region. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 7(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Kibetu Dickson Kinoti; Colbert Mutiso Jackson; Mwangi Joyce Muthoni. Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptations on Horticultural Land Use Practices around Mt. Kenya East Region. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2018, 7(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Kibetu Dickson Kinoti, Colbert Mutiso Jackson, Mwangi Joyce Muthoni. Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptations on Horticultural Land Use Practices around Mt. Kenya East Region. Am J Environ Prot. 2018;7(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11,
      author = {Kibetu Dickson Kinoti and Colbert Mutiso Jackson and Mwangi Joyce Muthoni},
      title = {Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptations on Horticultural Land Use Practices around Mt. Kenya East Region},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-6},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20180701.11},
      abstract = {Eastern slopes of Mount Kenya experienced widespread horticultural crop production after the establishment of Horticultural Crops Development Agency (HCDA) packing facilities within the region in the early 2000s. Favourable soils and climatic conditions triggered by growing export market demands have led to the changing patterns of agricultural land use practices in Mt. Kenya east region. The focus is now shifting to agro-diversification and land use intensification practices. The growing horticultural farming business in this region is impacting subsistence production, resource use as well as livelihood dynamics. This paper assesses the implications of climate change adaptation measures on household food security, gender roles and land management activities within the context of horticultural produce land use practices. The findings ascertain that the region’s increasing agro-diversification activities are both coping strategies to the climate related changes and the social, political as well as economic transformations ushered in by devolution.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Dynamics of Climate Change Adaptations on Horticultural Land Use Practices around Mt. Kenya East Region
    AU  - Kibetu Dickson Kinoti
    AU  - Colbert Mutiso Jackson
    AU  - Mwangi Joyce Muthoni
    Y1  - 2018/03/16
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 6
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5699
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20180701.11
    AB  - Eastern slopes of Mount Kenya experienced widespread horticultural crop production after the establishment of Horticultural Crops Development Agency (HCDA) packing facilities within the region in the early 2000s. Favourable soils and climatic conditions triggered by growing export market demands have led to the changing patterns of agricultural land use practices in Mt. Kenya east region. The focus is now shifting to agro-diversification and land use intensification practices. The growing horticultural farming business in this region is impacting subsistence production, resource use as well as livelihood dynamics. This paper assesses the implications of climate change adaptation measures on household food security, gender roles and land management activities within the context of horticultural produce land use practices. The findings ascertain that the region’s increasing agro-diversification activities are both coping strategies to the climate related changes and the social, political as well as economic transformations ushered in by devolution.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections