Abstract:
Frequent and severe droughts are evidences of climate change in Kenya.
The severe effects of droughts on rural livelihoods have prompted many
studies on climate change and its effects on human activities such as
farming. However, farmers practicing rain-fed agriculture in the semi
arid areas of Kenya still suffer from the wrath of droughts despite the
well documented research findings and recommendations. Such studies
have been conducted in Central Division of the semi-arid areas of
Laikipia District but farmers still face faced food insecurity caused by
droughts. In attempt to analyze the cause of continued food
insecurity in Central Division the study evaluated the planting dates for
rain-fed crop farmers between 1975 and 2005 and suggested the most
appropriate planting dates for the farmers in order to minimize the risk
of crop failure. Using Instate Plus v 3.36 statistical software the study
established that the median planting dates from the bold and cautious
farmers were 6th and 16th of April respectively farmers (early planters)
were 16th of March to 10th of April for the cautious farmers (late
planters). The risks from replanting were higher for the cautious farmers
at 26.6% than for the bold farmers at 19.4%. The most appropriate time
for planting in Central Division was from mid-March to 10th of April.
The results of the study gave an insight to crop farmers in the study area
on the risks of early or late season planting under the changing climate
and thus make informed decisions on when to plant.