AICCRA: Strengthening Systems for Delivery of Climate Information Services (CIS) and Agro-Advisories to Farmers in Kenya

Chesoli, R. 2024. AICCRA: Strengthening Systems for Delivery of Climate Information Services (CIS) and Agro-Advisories to Farmers in Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

Climate change continues to pose significant challenges to Kenya’s agriculture sector, particularly for smallholder farmers. Kenya's climate is shaped by its diverse topography, spanning coastal lowlands to highland plateaus and mountains (Edame & Fonta, 2011). This geographical variation gives rise to a spectrum of climatic and ecological zones, encompassing hot and humid coastal regions, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) characterized by low rainfall and high temperatures, cool to temperate highlands with distinct wet and dry seasons, and variable climates in the Rift Valley (Government of Kenya, 2018). Overall, the country's water for domestic and agricultural use is derived from rivers and streams whose recharge depends on rainfall. However, climate change has led to shifts in rainfall seasonality, manifesting as delayed onsets and reduced durations of the rainy season impacting the availability of freshwater in Kenya (Government of Kenya, 2018).

These challenges have resulted in reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and economic instability, especially in the ASALs. The northern and eastern parts of the country have faced successive seasons of poor harvests, characterized by delayed rainfall and inadequate distribution, leading to a reduction in the planted areas. Furthermore, the lack of timely and relevant climate information further hampers the farmers’ ability to adapt and mitigate the impacts of these events. Studies indicate that creating awareness on climate change and increasing farmers’ access to climate information services (CIS) and agro-advisories can promote resilience to climate impacts on food production (Appiah et al., 2025) (Ngigi & Muange, 2022).

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) in collaboration with other public entities such as Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Kenya National Disaster Management Authority (KNDMA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), and the private sector partners, provide early warning weather and climate information. These services help farmers make informed decisions on crop selection, risk minimization, and coping strategies. However, despite these efforts, significant gaps persist in delivering and accessing climate information. Smallholder farmers—who account for 70% of Kenya’s population—still struggle to access timely and accurate climate information. This limitation pinpoints the need for more effective systems and processes for managing and disseminating climate information and early warnings.

The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project in Kenya has been working with KMD, KALRO, MoALD, and Kenyan climate experts to enhance the delivery CIS and agro-advisories to farmers in Kenya. The purpose of this collaboration is to enhance access to timely, relevant, and actionable information for smallholder farmers to mitigate climate risks, minimize crop losses, and improve productivity.