Supporting smallholder livestock farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change in Kenya: What role does entrepreneurial orientation and uptake of CSA play?

Abstract

Improving smallholder farmers' adaptive capacity to climate change has become a major concern of governments and development agencies. Adaptive capacity determines the inherent ability of a system to cope with vulnerability to climate change. This paper used cross sectional survey data of 737 livestock producing households to assess determinants of adaptive capacity among Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) communities in Kenya. Specifically, we focused on the role of entrepreneurship orientation (risk taking, proactiveness and innovativeness) and uptake of climate smart agricultural (CSA) practices in improving adaptive capacity – a dimension which has received limited research attention. Adaptive capacity was measured using a set of indicators representing the five capitals in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF). The determinants of adaptive capacity were analyzed using fractional and censored regression models. The results revealed mixed influence of entrepreneurship orientation on adaptive capacity. While risk taking and proactiveness were positively associated with a higher adaptive capacity, innovativeness did not have any influence. Similarly, uptake of livestock CSA practices was associated with a higher level of adaptive capacity. Other factors that positively influenced adaptive capacity were age, gender, education level, diversity of income, access to extension services, credit, and collective action. The findings suggest that a strategy to promote entrepreneurial orientation, uptake of CSA, accumulation of human and financial capital would enhance livestock producers’ adaptive capacity.