Agrobiodiversity as a coping strategy in the face of climate change: Lessons from rural farming communities of Kitui, Kenya

Transcription

1 Agrobiodiversity as a coping strategy in the face of climate change: Lessons from rural farming communities of Kitui, Kenya

2 Introduction Kitui is generally semiarid Droughts are common but in recent years weather is more erratic Nairobi E.g. in 2009 the area experienced unprecedented drought while in 2010 it is experiencing extreme wetness Changes are attributable to Climate change Kitui provides an ideal case to learn how local farmers mitigate the effects of climate change and food insecurity Source: Google map

3 Two rain seasons in a year Ave rainfall and temp. in Kitui 1999/2000 Temperature

4 Erratic weather with extremes 5-month Average Rainfall of Kitui: 1999/2000 compared with 2009/ Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Total 1999/ / / / Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

5 Extreme drought (Oct 2009) and wetness (Mar 2010) Both months are the hottest and driest in the year

6 Objective and methods Objective: To assess how farmers in Kitui use agrobiodiversity and local farming skills to mitigate the effects of frequent droughts Methods: 20 villages used Agrobiodiversity determination in household crop fields 24 hr recall among 300 households monthly market surveys for 1 year

7 53 km Study site 38degrees E Kitui: 180km E. of Nairobi. Middle part has Kitui hills Three ecological zones & 6 sub-zones Kitui Hills S E Source: Google map 43km

8 Rainfall / mm High variation in rainfall and temp. within a short distance. Temp Inyuu Kangondi Rainfall Temperature / Inyuu 033 Kangondi Month Month

9 Result: On-farm agrobiodiversity survey Average (2.29)

10 Results Most farmers mix crops to balance nutrient intake and as a strategy to cope with erratic weather (100%) There are more biennial and perennial crops than annuals. Perennials such as fruits cope better in erratic weather, a fact used by farmers to enhance resilience Two-season (biennial) crops are also hardy and include some important legumes such as pigeon pea, lablab, climbing bean (ngelenge) and creeping forms of cowpeas (ndamba). Most farmers keep livestock to provide additional nutritional benefits and also manure Having farms in different ecological zones/ habitats (e.g near water, different soils, altitude) spreads the risks and diversifies food Markets provide an opportunity for farmers to access foods that are in season in other agroecological zones Large workforce (women groups, children, relatives) ensures that there is sufficient labour.

11 Most houseolds have more than one crop field. Home gardens have more diversity 3 rd field 1.24 acres Maize (1) Pigeon pea (1) Cowpea (1) Pumpkin (1) H3 ( ) indicates no. of landraces. 2 nd field 2.38 acres Maize (1) Pigeon pea (1) Cowpea (1) Bean (1) Green gram (1) Pumpkin (1) Gourd (1) 200m H2 H1 Home Garden 0.84 acres Maize (1) Pigeon pea (1) Bean (1) Cowpea (1) Pumpkin (2) Gourd (1) Cassava (1) Water melon (1)

12 Summary of the correlation matrix High correlation ( 0.30) found between the following: In home gardens: 1) No. of annual crop species and No. of perennial fruit trees (0.64). 2) Elevation and No. of perennial fruit trees (0.64). 3) Elevation and average slope (0.33). 4) Elevation and field size ( ). 5) Average slope and No. of perennial fruit trees (0.30). In away fields : 1) No. of annual crop species and No. of perennial fruit trees (0.50). 2) No. of crop species (annual and perennial crops including wild fruit trees): Home garden > Away home field.

13 Home garden Chili, amaranth, sorghum, pumpkin, sweet potato, fruit trees Different crops/varieties occupy specific habitats Combination of maize and cowpea/ bean/ pigeon peas Early maturity types Pigeon peas Cow peas Kametho beans Cow peas Late maturity types Taro, banana, sweet potato, sugar cane, tomato, kale Damba Excessive vegetative growth

14 This data obtained from market survey shows that the main naturally growing fruits (baobab, black plum and tamarind) supplement cultivated fruits when in season. Seasonal calendar for the major fruits: Complementary role of naturally growing fruits Seasonal calendar for fruits in Kitui Central Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Cultivated Lowlands Mango Hills Mango lowlands fruit Custard apple Custard apple Oranges Oranges Tangerine Lemon Lemon Pawpaw Pawpaw Guava Passion fruit (yellow) Passion fruit Avocado Avocado Wild fruit Black plum Tamarind Baobab

15 Market act as an assembly place for food from different ecosystems Fruits in market and source: Mar to Apr Fruits in market and source: Jul to Sep Mango 3 Banana 3 Pawpaw 1-3 Custard apple 2 Passion fruit 2 Guava 2,3 A 2 1 B Tamarind 1 Pawpaw 1-2 Avocado 2-3 Black plum 2 Baobab 1 Orange A B

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17 Biennial legumes Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) Lablab beans (Lablab purpureus)

18 Naturally growing fruit trees Tamarind fruits Baobab fruits

19 Perennial plants mainly fruit trees Pawpaw tree

20 Conclusion Farmers in Kitui use cultivated and naturally growing agrobiodiversity to enhance resilience Perennials and biennials are key to this resilience. Important perennials naturally growing fruit trees Markets provide a opportunities for farmers to access agrobiodiversity from the entire zone