Does Reactive Adaptation Exist? Using the Ecosystem Service Governance Approach to Evaluate Post-Drought Rural Food Security in Kenya - Natural Resources

NR > Vol.5 No.8, June 2014

Volume 5, Issue 8 (June 2014)

ISSN Print: 2158-706X ISSN Online: 2158-7086

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.96 Citations

Does Reactive Adaptation Exist? Using the Ecosystem Service Governance Approach to Evaluate Post-Drought Rural Food Security in Kenya ()

HTML

Download as PDF (Size: 1433KB) PP. 392-407

DOI: 10.4236/nr.2014.58037 4,170 Downloads 5,949 Views Citations

Author(s)

Grace W. Ngaruiya

Affiliation(s)

University of Hamburg, Department of Geosciences, Climate Change and Security Research Group, Hamburg, Germany.

ABSTRACT

Controversial climate change studies purport that predicted food insecurity and resource scarcity will intensify resource conflicts in developing nations. This belief is based on a prevalent assumption that African agricultural production systems are rigid and that their respective governments lack comprehensive adaptation ability. Therefore, I investigate whether and how effective post- drought adaptation activity is sustaining food production and livelihoods at Loitoktok district in Kenya. This study uses the theoretical three-step ecosystem service governance approach that analyzes both natural resources attributes and relational data. Results confirm a substantial decline in productivity and huge monetary losses in the agricultural sector of Loitoktok following the 2009 drought. Post-drought analysis reveals high diversification in crops and livestock that are drought-tolerant, fast maturing and high income generating such as camels, rabbits and dairy goats, horticultural and fruit production that sustain food security, income and local livelihoods. These reactive adaptation activities originate from an active public-private cooperation that promotes knowledge exchange among Loitoktok stakeholders. This cooperation is also seen in the efficient resource conflict resolution network. In conclusion, rural communities seem to be efficiently adapting to changing environmental conditions but require more financial and technical support from the government. Unfortunately, appraisal of national planned adaptation reveals effort-duplication that may divert much needed adaptation funds from being invested in research projects with multiple benefits to Kenyan food producers.

KEYWORDS

Climate Adaptation, Drought Impacts, Food Security, Knowledge Brokers, Social Networks, Kenya

Share and Cite:

Ngaruiya, G. (2014) Does Reactive Adaptation Exist? Using the Ecosystem Service Governance Approach to Evaluate Post-Drought Rural Food Security in Kenya. Natural Resources, 5, 392-407. doi: 10.4236/nr.2014.58037.

Cited by

[1]	Review of vulnerability factors linking climate change and conflict
	Climate, 2023

[2]	Determinants of reactive adaptations to climate change in semi-arid region of Pakistan
	2021

[3]	POPULATION GROWTH OF TOMATO LEAF MINER MOTH, PRESENCE OF PARASITOID, AND FARMER CONTROL STRATEGIES IN NAIROBI AND KAJIADO …
	2020

[4]	Analysis of Reactive Adaptations by Rice Farmers Towards Climate Change—A Case Study of Rice-Wheat Zone of Punjab, Pakistan
	Pap. And Proc. of 33rd AGM & …, 2019

[5]	Actors and networks in resource conflict resolution under climate change in rural Kenya
	Earth System Dynamics, 2016

[6]	ANALYSIS OF REACTIVE ADAPTATIONS BY RICE FARMERS TOWARDS CLIMATE CHANGE-A CASE STUDY OF RICE-WHEAT ZONE OF PUNJAB …
	2016

[7]	Deconstructing a pastoralists' network to evaluate climate adaptation in the sector: a case study of Narok, Kenya
	2016

[8]	Reweaving stakeholder networks: Promoting climate mitigation and Maasai culture using medicinal plants in Kenya
	Ecosystem Services, 2015

[9]	Climate governance, rural livelihoods and social networks: Using the ecosystem service governance approach to analyse climate adaptation and resource …
	2014

[10]	On exposure, vulnerability and violence: Spatial distribution of risk factors for climate change and violent conflict across Kenya and Uganda
	Political Geography, 2014

[11]	Climate governance, rural livelihoods and social networks: Using the ecosystem service governance approach to analyse climate adaptation and resource conflict resolution in Kenya.
	Doctoral dissertation, Universit?t Hamburg Hamburg, 2014

[12]	Towards Methodological Pluralism: An Empirical Evaluation of Research Methods for Assessing the Link between Climate Change and Violent Conflict
	Dissertation, 2014

[13]	Climate governance, rural livelihoods and social networks: Using the ecosystem service governance approach to analyse climate adaptation and resource conflict …
	2014

	customer@scirp.org
	+86 18163351462 (WhatsApp)
	1655362766
	SCIRP WeChat

Journals Menu

Home

About SCIRP

Service

Policies