Agrobiodiversity and perceived climatic change effect on family farming systems in semiarid tropics of Kenya

Abstract

The steady decline in agrobiodiversity is not only a significant threat to the genetic stability of the rural agroecosystems but also places a huge impediment to the realization of global food security. Climate change and decline in arable land is forcing subsistence farmers to abandon the less productive but well-adapted local crops for the newer short term and drought-tolerant crops decimating agrobiodiversity further. This study sought to establish the on-farm species and genetic diversity status among the family farming systems of semiarid areas of Eastern Kenya and effect on food security, agrobiodiversity management strategies, their perception of climate change, and climate change coping strategies. Structured questionnaires were administered to 92 active farmers in Embu, Kitui, and Tharaka Nithi Counties of Eastern Kenya. On-farm diversity, socio-economic factors, and their impact on agrobiodiversity were determined. Possible correlations were established using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. Remarkably, 26 crop species were recorded where legumes and cereals were dominant. According to the Shannon–Wiener Diversity index (H′), Tharaka Nithi County recorded the highest legumes and cereals diversity indices of 3.436 and 3.449, respectively. Food shortage was reported by over 50% of the respondents in the study area. The existence of weaker adaptive measures in response to climate change was evident. Family farming systems that had higher crop diversification and integrated livestock rearing in their farms were more food secure. Improved mitigation to climate change and diversification of farming systems among the smallholder farms is essential not only in boosting the food security but also in establishment of sustainable farming systems resilient to climate change.

Farmers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Management Practices of False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) in Smallholder Capsicum sp. Cropping Systems in Kenya

“…This difference in application of IPM across gender was found to be significant. Since women are the ones mostly involved with farm activities in sub-Saharan Africa [48,49], their experience acquired over farming with different pest-management strategies makes them more aware of the effective pest-management strategies [32]. Combining these IPM strategies with other agroecological-based approaches can offer a sustainable way of Capsicum sp.…”

Landscape Biodiversity in Terms of Crop Structures: A Spatial Assessment for Poland

“…The study was based on data from the General Agricultural Census 2020 in Statistics Poland's (CSO) Local Data regarding the area of individual crops as of June 31, 2020. After verification of the available data, the following crops and crop groups were included for further analysis: winter wheat (including spelt) (1), spring wheat (including spelt) (2), winter rye (3), spring rye (4), winter barley (5), spring barley (6), oats (7), winter triticale (8), spring triticale (9), winter cereal mixtures (10), spring cereal mixtures (11), maize for grain (12), industrial (annuals) (13), total edible legumes for dry grain (14), potatoes (15), sugar beets (16), oilseed rape and agrimony, combined (17), field vegetables (18), spring catch crops (19), winter catch crops (20). In addition to data on individual species (e.g., wheat, rye, etc.…”

Urban agroecology enhances agrobiodiversity and resilient, biocultural food systems. The case of the semi-dryland and medium-sized Querétaro City, Mexico

“…Many people's food and livelihood security depend on the sustained management of various biological resources that are important for food and agriculture (Schneider and McMichael, 2010). Yet at least 70% of crop genetic diversity has been lost due to climate change, the industrialization of agriculture, and the associated shifts in the socio-economic and cultural dynamics of food and agriculture (FAO, 2020;Njeru et al, 2022).…”

“…For example, the role of pest control by natural predators is estimated to 1 Related to agrobiodiversity, the flexibility and variety of production and management technologies and practices of small urban farmers is encompassed by the term agrodiversity, used by Pinedo-Vasquez (2008). Pertaining only to primary production, high agrodiversity is central to any strategy aimed at developing sustainable food-production systems that are resilient to stresses driven by climate change (Brookfield and Stocking, 1999;Njeru et al, 2022).…”