Assessment of Knowledge Co-production in Adaptation to Rainfall Variability in Kitui South Sub-county, Kenya

Aims: This study tried to investigate the extent of knowledge co-production between indigenous farmers and agricultural extension in dry lands.

Study Design: The study adopted survey research design where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Kitui South sub-County in the semi-arid Southeastern Kenya. Data was collected between June 2019 and August 2019.

Methodology: An enumerator-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 311 household heads. Purposive and proportional sampling techniques were used to select households which participated in the study. Data was analyzed with the aid of SPSS Version 20. Percentages and proportions were used to establish instances of knowledge co-production between indigenous and modern scientific methods of farming.

Results: The study established that all households used both indigenous and scientific methods of farming except in irrigation and crop harvesting methods. The highest co-production was between use of locally preserved seeds and use of modern seasonal climate forecast (71.4%), use of traditional seasonal climate forecasts and use of modern seasonal climate (64.6%) as well as use of traditional crop storage and use modern seasonal climate forecast (59.2%). Seasonal climate forecasting was the leading corresponding method of knowledge co-production in the study area.

Conclusion: The study concludes that use of both indigenous and modern methods of farming can improve adaptation to rainfall variability. The study recommends access to adequate water to promote knowledge co-production on irrigation which was lacking yet very critical in dealing with rainfall variability in the study area.