Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Smallholder Dairy Cattle Production in Bungoma, Kenya

Abstract

Climate change is becoming one of the most serious challenges to Kenyas achievement of its development goals as described under Vision 2030. Kenya is already highly susceptible to climate-related hazards, and in many areas, extreme events and variability of weather are now the norm; rainfall is irregular and unpredictable; while droughts have become more frequent during the long rainy season and severe floods during the short rains. Dairy farming is highly sensitive to climate change and variability, and rain-fed agriculture systems, in particular, are especially susceptible to unpredictable weather.