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Author: search.filters.author.Opiyo, Francis E.Has files: Yes

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    Influence of Rainfall Variability on Tomato Production among Small Scale Farmers in Kieni East Sub County, Kenya
    (Journal of Arts & Humanities, 2018) Karienye, Joseph M.; Nduru, Gilbert M.; Huho, Julius M.; Opiyo, Francis E.
    In Kenya, horticultural farming within the agricultural sector contributes 25 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product and to job creation for the majority of the households. About one third of Kenya’s population live in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands largely depends on rain-fed agriculture as a source of livelihood. The spatial and temporal rainfall variations that characterize these regions is thought have adverse effects on tomato production, with scanty information existing in literature. This study examined the influence of rainfall variability on tomato production among small scale farmers in Kieni East Sub County, Kenya. The study was conducted in four wards of Kieni East Sub County, Kabaru, Thegu River, Narumoru/ Kiamathaga and Gakawa. Cross sectional survey research design was used in this study. Household questionnaire survey and interview was used to collect primary data from a sample of 45 farmers randomly selected and proportionately distributed among the four wards. Specific objectives were to: establish rainfall characteristics between 1981 and 2014 and establish farmers’ adaptation strategies to rainfall variability on tomato production in the study area. Rainfall data was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department in Nairobi. Data on farmer’s adapatation strategies was obtained from the farmers in Kieni East Sub County. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, means, and tables with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0. The study benefited the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers and policy implementers in improving tomato production in areas that are characterized by varying rainfall patterns.
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    Assessing Climate Variability Adaptation and Coping Strategies Among Rural Households in Kenya
    (Journal of Water Sciences & Environment Technologies, 2018-08) Nduru, Gilbert M.; Musyimi, Peter Kinyae; Huho, Julius M.; Opiyo, Francis E.
    The aim of this study is to assess the adopted water scarcity adaptation and coping strategies of rural households to climate variability. It also identifies suitable strategies that minimize the impact of climate variability on water sources in arid and semi-arid (ASALs) in Kenya. The study was carried out in Makindu Sub-county, Makueni County, Kenya. Data collection techniques such as questionnaires and in-depth interview with 370 households, key informants interviews were used to assess the adaptation and coping strategies of rural households and identify the most suitable strategies for the study area. Rainfall data was collected from Makindu Meteorological station and used for meteorological drought characteristics analysis. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was used to analyze drought severity in the study area between 1980 and 2011. SPI was used to quantify precipitation deficit for various time scales. Drought Intensity (DI) was used to determine decadal drought intensities. SPI results showed that 18 years out of 31 with negative SPI values an indication of drought severity occurrence. The year 2005 was the driest in the area with an SPI of -1.76. The study also showed increasing drought intensities from 1990s to 2000s. The study showed that the rural households had adopted varied adaptation and coping strategies to cope with impact of drought extremes on water sources. However, increase in drought characteristics occurrences minimized their resilience and adaptive capacities. The study observed that the strategies employed are unlikely to enable them cope with recent climate change and variability regimes, therefore need for most suitable and viable ones. The study identified viable strategies such as rainwater harvesting and sinking boreholes as long term measures that can enhance rural households’ resilience to climate change extremes in ASALs of Kenya.