Climate change and crop production:

Abstract

Climate change is emerging as the most important environmental problem facing modern society. Increasing stocks of atmospheric Green House Gases is increasingly predisposing many to the effects of climate change. Agriculture is particularly vulnerable especially in the rain fed regions characteristic of developing nations. The study digested the challenges in crop production that are experienced by farmers in Nyamira County, Kenya for the past ten years. In order to understand the viability of the agricultural systems of Nyamira County under increasing climate change variability, study was guided by the overall objective of assessing the impacts of climate change on crop production. The study established that only 54.2% of the population had knowledge of climate change as a concept. Further, it was realized that a higher percentage of the population are vulnerable to climate changes since they are dependent on rain fed agriculture. Lastly, education level among the farming population is low making it hard for the adoption of most adaptation measures. The major crops in Nyamira County largely affected are cereals with 59% of the respondents attesting to planting maize, beans or a combination of both, Of the 191 (71.8%) farmers of 266 reported decreased yields and mentioned decrease in rainfall as the major factor affecting production. The study can conclude that delays in onset of the long rains results into delayed planting and low outputs. The researcher recommends that Farmer education and training coupled with other factors such as improved seed varieties, irrigation and technologies can greatly help the populations in Nyamira County to increase on their annual crop outputs. This can be achieved through combined efforts by Government together with local leaders of the area.