Smallholder farmers and vulnerable populations in Kenya are struggling with deepening food insecurity that has been provoked by the impacts of climate change.
Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns – direct consequences of the changing climate – are disrupting agricultural productivity. In 2023, Kenya experienced extreme weather events that were characterized by above-normal temperatures, drought, and flooding, all of which had negative impacts on agricultural cycles. The extreme weather patterns reduce crop yields and deplete water and grazing resources leading to limited food availability and increased insecurity. As a result, almost 3 million people faced ‘acute food insecurity’ according to the UN.
This DevelopmentAid article explores how, because of its impact on temperature and rainfall, climate change is exacerbating food insecurity in Kenya, undermining sustainable growth by increasing poverty and causing economic instability. It also discusses how the Global Carbon budget, climate-smart agriculture, and climate change education in schools could slow climate change down.
An overview of climate change in Kenya
Kenya has experienced a significant rise in normal maximum temperatures, witnessing an increase of 1.5°C in just 50 years – from 29.0°C in the 1970s to approximately 30.5°C in the early 2020s. This 1.5°C increase is one of the causes of drought which reduces the availability of water for agriculture which then leads to food insecurity among vulnerable communities.
Conversely, the extreme rainfall in Kenya is causing floods that are damaging crops, disrupting planting and harvesting schedules and destroying agricultural infrastructure. In the 2023 long rainfall period in March-April-May, extreme floods caused by cyclone Freddy and the Madden-Julian Oscillation had a devastating impact on the country’s agricultural ecosystems. The ongoing destruction of agricultural infrastructure by unpredictable cyclones is increasing Kenya’s vulnerability to food insecurity.
Climate change impacts deepen food insecurity
Agriculture accounts for 28% of Kenya’s GDP and represents 65% of the country’s exports which causes the country’s economy to be vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Kenya depends on maize which is the most preferred crop in agricultural systems despite its weak adaptability to extreme climatic conditions. This is the primary cause of food insecurity during the growing seasons if maize fails to produce the expected yields due to low rainfall. For example, between March and June 2022, the number of food-insecure Kenyans increased from 3.1 million to at least 3.5 million because of the maize crop failure.
Fig.1. 2022 food insecurity provoked by maize crop failure
Source: The Elephant Food Edition 2022 Series
Solutions to climate change effects
The sustainable solutions aiming to combat climate change in Kenya include:
- Implementing the Global Carbon budget to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs)
The Global Carbon budget is the allowable GHG emissions limit that will ensure global warming remains within the 2015 Paris Agreement targets of less than 2°C and ideally 1.5°C. Despite Kenya contributing less than 0.1% of the global yearly GHGs, the nation formulated a detailed Nationally Determined Contribution in December 2020 which commits the country to reducing emissions by 32% by 2030.
The country is also striving to achieve Net Zero emissions by deploying low-carbon solutions in the energy sector. Decarbonization technologies such as low-carbon hydrogen, electric vehicles, cycling to work, and electrification using clean energy could be employed to reduce GHGs emissions.
- Implementing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)
CSA incorporates sustainable farming practices, resilience-building strategies, and decreased GHG emissions to address food insecurity and climate change but, despite efforts to embrace these practices, few have high adoption rates. Kenyan farmers could use CSA management practices such as conservation tillage and biochar use in fields, innovative pasture management, and intensive dairy production to reduce GHG emissions. A study by Zaman et al. (2021) shows that CSA practices are efficient in reducing GHG emissions by reducing soil carbon loss and sequestration.
- Integrating climate change education in schools’ curricula
Climate change education involves incorporating knowledge and skills about climate science, environmental sustainability, and sustainable practices to empower learners to address climate problems. According to Eliam’s (2022) scholarly article, despite climate change being a massive threat in our time, evidence shows that worldwide, the topic is not effectively covered in school curricula, leaving students uneducated about climate change. Other research has found that Kenya’s competence-based curriculum content has not maintained pace with climate change either in local regions or nationally.
Final Word
Climate change leading to above-normal temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns is exacerbating food insecurity in Kenya, threatening agricultural productivity, livelihoods, and economic stability. The climate change crisis could be addressed by implementing climate-smart agriculture to increase resilience and crop productivity. Adhering to the global carbon budget is another solution, as Kenya will contribute to international efforts and funding to mitigate the effects of climate change. Also, incorporating climate change education into the school curriculum will prepare learners for innovating and developing sustainable solutions to secure future food systems.
