Resource information
Agriculture is a major driver of the
Kenyan economy, contributing 54 percent to the national
gross domestic product (GDP) and accounting for 65 percent
of total export earnings. Kenya’s GDP growth is highly
correlated with the sector’s performance, and its
performance is highly volatile. The frequency and intensity
of severe weather events has increased, and will be further
exacerbated as a result of climate change. The country’s
overwhelming reliance on rain-fed agricultural production
systems renders it highly vulnerable to food supply
disruptions and shortages. Climate information services
(CIS) include immediate and short-term weather forecasts and
advisories and longer-term information about new seeds and
technologies and market developments. CIS is especially
useful in helping farmers to manage risks in what is already
an exceptionally risky sector in which to operate, and in
offsetting much of the uncertainty that so often constrains
decision making and innovation. CIS is a relatively new area
in extension service delivery. Case studies reported on in
this report reveal that only a small number of Kenyan
farmers currently access CIS.
