Buffer-Capacity-Based Livelihood Resilience to Stressors—An Early Warning Tool and Its Application in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

Persistent vulnerability of smallholder farmers to natural hazards and livelihood insecurity call for the identification of measures that enhance the resilience of their agriculture-dependent livelihoods. Without understanding how to secure smallholder livelihoods against adverse social-ecological dynamics, especially related to climate variability and market failures, hunger, poverty, and livelihood collapse are likely to become more entrenched. This study aims for this better understanding by applying the Livelihood Resilience Indicator Framework to investigate the livelihood resilience of smallholder farmers in Makueni County, Kenya, to disease and pest infestations, low yields, and hunger. We analyzed the buffer capacity dimension of resilience among smallholder farmers, using survey data collected in 2016 on 134 households. We conducted principal component analysis to calculate a buffer capacity index at household level, which we then assessed in relation to crop and livestock pests and diseases, yields, and food shortage. We found that there was a significant positive correlation between buffer capacity and maize yields, which could be attributed to diversity in agricultural practices and income. The incidence of pests and diseases correlated significantly and negatively with buffer capacity and specifically with land size, economic status, and social capital. While no significant relationship could be established between buffer capacity and the occurrence of food insecurity, this variable correlated with access to land and livestock, diversity in agricultural practices, and access to infrastructure. The expected positive relation between food security and access to infrastructure and services turned out to be negative, raising questions about the relations between the livelihood resilience construct and rural infrastructure and services. More differentiation is thus needed on the multi-faceted interactions between access to infrastructure and services, including their actual use and benefits to livelihood resilience. In general, most findings supported the Livelihood Resilience Indicator Framework in that households with higher buffer capacity were better equipped to cope with shocks and stressors, hence demonstrating the potential of the framework as an early warning tool.

Can monocultures be resilient? Assessment of buffer capacity in two agroindustrial cropping systems in Africa and South America

“…Previous studies on landscape heterogeneity have recorded higher levels of heterogeneity in smallholder farms as compared to large-scale commercial enterprises [41]. Other studies also show that an increase of areas with natural vegetation on farms contributes to enhancement of biodiversity [32,35].…”

“…Cropping systems' sensitivity to risks depends on exposure and on the "buffer" capacity to cushion stress and shocks [30][31][32]. Buffer capacity enables the continuation of basic system functions in the face of stress and shocks, and reduces the intensity of shocks [29].…”

“…One of the few studies on buffer capacity in agriculture on smallholder resilience in Kenya [32], analysed buffer capacity among smallholder farmers in in a semiarid environment. Using a livelihood resilience indicator framework, the study observed that households that had a higher buffer capacity were more likely to cope with risks [32].…”

“…One of the few studies on buffer capacity in agriculture on smallholder resilience in Kenya [32], analysed buffer capacity among smallholder farmers in in a semiarid environment. Using a livelihood resilience indicator framework, the study observed that households that had a higher buffer capacity were more likely to cope with risks [32]. Our study uses livelihood capitals, but in addition, applies indicators of functional and response diversity (landscape heterogeneity, percentage of arable land under vegetation, and diversity of crops and breeds) [33,37,38].…”

Smallholder livelihood resilience to climate variability in South-Eastern Kenya, 2012–2015

“…For this reason, several proxy-based approaches to measuring livelihood resilience and its different aspects have been proposed and sometimes applied (cf. Alinovi et al, 2010;Ifejika Speranza et al, 2013, 2014Boillat et al, 2019;Matter et al, 2021). Developing such indicators pose several challenges.…”