Adaptation to climate change is a critical issue for Kenya's food security and future economic growth. Agriculture directly or indirectly supports 80 per cent of the population and much of Kenya's economy is based on agro-based industries. Climate change puts Kenya's development at risk through potential changes in precipitation in semi-arid areas, increased incidence of waterborne diseases in humid areas and increased rates of depletion of biomass and biodiversity The case study of Eastern Kenya examines different institutional mechanisms for seed distribution in the wake of successive droughts from 1991-2004, interspersed with floods, which resulted in a massive loss of crops, livestock and rural infrastructure. Seed fairs, organised by local communities with support from external NGOs, are found to be a more cost-effective mechanism for rapid seed distribution to the neediest sections of society than conventional, commercial channels. The latter wrongly assume that in periods of emergency local seed varieties are unavailable, when the key issue is of securing access. Seed fairs ensure seed varieties better adapted to local conditions are available during emergency periods. They also avoid the creation of dependency, help to build affected communities' social capital and contribute positively to the maintenance of biodiversity.
Orindi, VA; Ochieng, A
Case study 5: Kenya - Seed fairs as a drought recovery strategy in Kenya
Ids Bulletin-Institute Of Development Studies