Assessing Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices for Enhanced Food Security in Nyamira County, Kenya: A Scientific Perspective

Abstract

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices are essential for delivering production inputs, information, germplasm, finance, markets and other resources observed by smallholder farmers. This study aimed to utilize CSA practices to address agricultural production obstacles and enhance food security in Nyamira County. The overall objective was to determine the influence of climate-smart agriculture practices on food security among small-scale farmers in Nyamira County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, with a sample size of 384 households selected through a multistage sampling approach. Data collection methods included questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), observation checklists, and structured interview schedules. Secondary data was gathered from various sources such as the internet, journals, publications, and document analyses. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists version 25, while qualitative data was summarized through narrative analysis. The findings revealed that mixed cropping at 20.50% (230), crop rotation at 15.15% (170), organic farming at 10.52% (118), and cover cropping at 7.93% (89) all had a significant influence on the food security of the small-scale farmers (p<0.05). Conversely, agroforestry at 14.53% (163), drought-resistant crops at 7.49% (84), water harvesting at 13.10% (147), and integrated soil fertility management at 7.31% (82) did not exhibit a significant influence (p-value > 0.05). The logistic regression model showed a statistically significant χ2 = 20.267, p < 0.05, between CSA practices and food security. The study recommends that the Nyamira County agriculture department, in conjunction with the national government and non-governmental organizations, promote the upscaling of mixed cropping, crop rotation, organic farming, and cover cropping among smallholder farmers as key CSA practices to enhance household food security in the area.