| dc.description.abstract | The effects of climate variability and change on communities are felt across the globe
thus adaptation information is sought as a panacea. With the pervasive uncertainty on
expected weather patterns amidst climate variability and change, sound decisions are
fundamental. As a consequence, this study hypothesized that achieving increased climateinformed
adaptation action requires the dissemination of climate change adaptation
information. The relevant risk factors and policy domains should be particularly targeted
at the sustainability of this course. This study generally aimed at determining the effect of
climate change adaptation information on productivity. Specifically, the study
characterized the pathways through which farmers in lower eastern Kenya access agroadvisories
and
the
effect
of
socio-economic
characteristics
on
access
to
agro-advisories.
The
study also went ahead to look at the policies that support the dissemination of
adaptation information and lastly determined the effect of agro-advisory utilization on
food productivity. To achieve these objectives, 400 farming households and 15 key
informants were interviewed in lower Eastern Kenya. Thereafter, principal component
analysis, multivariate probit regression and endogenous switch regression model were
used to analyze the type of agro-advisories received through various pathways, the effect
of socio-economic factors and adaptation information effect on productivity respectively.
Further, document analysis, thematic analysis and mean ratings were used to determine
the effectiveness of the existing policy regimes. Based on the study findings, both
Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and face-to face interaction sessions are
used to receive agro-advisories. Several factors; gender, age, ownership of phones and
radio, occupation of the household head among other factors significantly determined the
pathway used to access agro-advisories. On policies, institutional arrangements and
funding were the least effective instruments supporting information dissemination. The
uptake of adaptation information entailing soil/water conservation and crop/varietal
adjustment had a significant positive impact on productivity. The study therefore
recommends that other types of adaptation information such as environmental protection
are included in agro-advisories, the significant socio-economic factors are considered in
the preparation and dissemination processes, policy instruments such as institutional
arrangements, expertise and legal frameworks are improved and reinforced to ensure
dissemination thus access to agro-advisories in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and
lastly, support that enables use of information such as provision of tolerant seeds are
looked into. The findings contribute to the existing body of scientific knowledge
particularly on climate change adaptation information as a decision-making tool that
should be mainstreamed into farm-level planning. It additionally provides a basis for
drawing and reinforcing existing policy regimes towards supporting the generation,
dissemination and use of climate change adaptation information to minimize the rising
risks in ASALs of Kenya hence enabling farming households across the region to make
the best of every season. | en_US |
