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Managing climate risk through crop diversification in rural Kenya

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  • Ochieng, Justus
  • Kirimi, Lilian
  • Ochieng, Dennis
  • Njagi, Timothy
  • Mathenge, Mary
  • Gitau, Raphael
  • Ayieko, Miltone

Abstract

Climatic variability and change continue to militate against efforts to increase agricultural productivity and food and nutrition security in many developing countries. Several studies propose crop diversification as a climate risk management strategy to increase production and food security. Most of the empirical studies are based on cross-sectional data that do not account for unobserved factors that may affect crop diversification. A disaggregated analysis of the influence of climatic variability and change on crop diversification by agroecological profiles is less explored. Panel studies also do not combine more than one climatic variability and change indicator as we do. We employ panel data models on farm household and 31-year rainfall and temperature data to analyze the effects of climatic variability and change on crop diversification among small-scale farmers disaggregated by agroecological zones in Kenya. We find widespread crop diversification among small farms in warmer regions as a risk management strategy. Results further show that smaller farm size, limited use of inorganic fertilizer, low household incomes, and limited access to off-farm livelihood options influence the decision to diversify crop production. However, crop diversification is not a one-size-fits-all strategy and should be adopted in situations where it gives maximum benefits, consistent with existing land use policies and known benefits of a specified crop portfolio. Crop diversification should not crowd-out specialization, particularly among resource-endowed farmers.
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  • Ochieng, Justus & Kirimi, Lilian & Ochieng, Dennis & Njagi, Timothy & Mathenge, Mary & Gitau, Raphael & Ayieko, Miltone, 2019. "Managing climate risk through crop diversification in rural Kenya," 2019 Sixth International Conference, September 23-26, 2019, Abuja, Nigeria 295785, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaae19:295785
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.295785
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hashmiu, Ishmael & Agbenyega, Olivia & Dawoe, Evans, 2022. "Determinants of crop choice decisions under risk: A case study on the revival of cocoa farming in the Forest-Savannah transition zone of Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Teodoro Semeraro & Aurelia Scarano & Angelo Leggieri & Antonio Calisi & Monica De Caroli, 2023. "Impact of Climate Change on Agroecosystems and Potential Adaptation Strategies," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Zhang, Yihao & Wu, Ya & Yan, Jianzhong & Peng, Ting, 2022. "How does rural labor migration affect crop diversification for adapting to climate change in the Hehuang Valley, Tibetan Plateau?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    5. Narmandakh, Davaatseren & Marenya, Paswel & Opie, Hellen & Bett, Charles, 2024. "Crop production diversity or market access? Welfare outcomes among sorghum-growing households in rural Kenya and Uganda," IAAE 2024 Conference, August 2-7, 2024, New Delhi, India 344362, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental Economics and Policy; Crop Production/Industries;

    JEL classification:

    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • Q24 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Land
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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