Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Implementation Framework 2018-2027

Abstract

The Agriculture Sector is the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing 25% of National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) directly and another 27% indirectly. Kenya’s agriculture is mainly rain-fed (98%) and predominantly small-scale, especially in the medium to high-potential areas which covers less than 15% of the country. The larger proportion of the country (83-89%), is arid and semi-arid with an annual average rainfall of 400 mm. This coupled with increased land degradation, inadequate access to land and support services, limited credit and markets, inadequate incentives for investment in agriculture, weak producer associations and institutional arrangements, has increased the vulnerability of the farming systems. This has led to erosion of productive assets and weakening their resilience, hence predisposing poor households to food insecurity and high poverty levels. The agricultural sector productivity is directly influenced by emerging and projected climate change patterns that include increased variability of seasonal rainfall and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate events such as droughts and floods. These have devastating impacts on the national economy and the livelihoods of the people. Negative economic growth indices have been associated with extreme weather events and unless climate change is not addressed, the economic costs of its impacts are estimated to be 3% of GDP per annul by 2030 and 5% by 2050. Further, climate change impacts are likely to increase the vulnerability of farming systems, thus weakening their coping strategies and resilience