Characterising Access to Climate Information and Services by the Vulnerable Groups in Semi-Arid Kenya
Abstract
203 words
This study characterised the channels through which the
vulnerable people in a semi arid area of Kenya access climate
information and services from data collected from randomly
selected sample in cross sectional survey using structured
questionnaire. Over 70% of both women and the elderly
representing vulnerable people perceived change in rainfall,
drought, floods, human and livestock diseases to have been
“severe” to “very severe” over the last five years. Majority of
women (88.5%) preferred radio while the elderly (83%)
preferred indigenous knowledge to access climate information
and services. Women consistently rated radio higher (P<0.05)
than the elderly for delivering reliable information, explaining
details and use of local language understood to them. However,
Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicated that
comprehensive informing on climatic hazards and support
services for adaptation to changing climate is from extension
service unlike the other channels which delivered information
only on climatic hazards. The study concluded that combination
of extension agents, radio and local administration would be
more effective for disseminating climate information and
services to vulnerable people in marginal areas. Capacity
building for extension service is needed in interpretation of
weather data to enable them effectively disseminate climate
information and services to vulnerable people of arid and semiarid
environments.
Subjects
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