Speaker
Description
Edwin Anyolo , Ripple Tech, Kenya.
Background and Objectives
Climate change threatens smallholder farming systems in Kenya, particularly in semi-arid regions such as Embu County, Makueni County, and Kajiado County. Increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, and land degradation undermine food security and livelihoods. For Example Makueni is among the counties most vulnerable to climate change, with a vulnerability index of 0.437
[36,37]. Over 64 % of households in the county use unimproved water sources, while about 36 % have access to improved water sources, and only 18 % have access to piped water www.researchgate.net, and this brought an increase in high food insecurity, low farm in-comes, and high poverty levels.
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) offer a sustainable pathway for climate adaptation and mitigation. This study examines how NbS,interventions supported by Ripple Tech, enhance resilience and ecosystem services among smallholder farmers in the Counties of Embu,Makueni,and Kajiado Respectively.
Methods.
The study draws from hands on Experience programs being implemented by Ripple Tech, specifically on LLA Principles across the regions.It analyzes key NbS interventions including agroforestry, soil and water conservation, water harvesting (e.g., sand dams), and climate-smart agriculture. The study also incorporates insights from locally led adaptation and indigenous knowledge systems, particularly in pastoral contexts.
Findings indicate that NbS significantly improve climate resilience by enhancing soil health, increasing water retention, restoring degraded landscapes, and sequestering carbon. In Makueni, sand dam technologies improve water security, while agroforestry systems in Embu enhance productivity and income diversification. In Kajiado, integration of indigenous grazing practices strengthens adaptation in pastoral systems. However, challenges remain, including limited financing,Technical Support governance gaps, and barriers to scaling. Digital tools provided by Ripple Tech under a Mobile App Platform Stendy-AI improve knowledge dissemination, monitoring, and adoption of NbS practices.
Keywords.
Nature-Based Solutions; Climate Adaptation; Smallholder Farmers, Ripple Tech.
| Are you participating to the "AnaEE Environmental Rising Star Award "? | No |
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