Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya

Maren Radeny (), Elizaphan J. O. Rao (), Maurice Juma Ogada (), John W. Recha () and Dawit Solomon ()
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Maren Radeny: East and Southern Africa: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Elizaphan J. O. Rao: Policy Institutions and Livelihood (PIL) Program International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Maurice Juma Ogada: Taita Taveta University
John W. Recha: East and Southern Africa: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Dawit Solomon: East and Southern Africa: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, No 13, 1535 pages

Abstract: Abstract This paper analyses the impact of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies on household dietary diversity and food insufficiency as indicators of food and nutrition security in Kenya. Using a combination of Propensity Score Matching and endogenous treatment effect approaches, we found that adoption of stress-tolerant varieties of several crops (such as bean, pigeon pea, cowpea, maize and sorghum) improved household dietary diversity score by 40% and reduced food insufficiency by 75%. Adoption of improved and resilient livestock breeds (including Red Maasai sheep and Galla goats) improved household dietary diversity by 38% while reducing household food insufficiency by 90%. We also found that stress-tolerant crop varieties were more effective in improving food security outcomes among households with large landholdings and with more educated and younger to middle-age heads. Effects of resilient livestock breeds on household food security were much stronger for households with large landholdings and with young and/or much older heads that have low levels of education. Given the large, demonstrated benefits from the use of the CSA technologies, policies and programs aimed at their promotion should apply appropriate targeting to ensure wider uptake of the technologies and maximum returns on investment.

Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture; Household food security; Propensity score matching; Endogenous treatment effect; Smallholder farmers; Kenya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 O33 Q16 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-022-01307-7

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