Abstract:
Climate change has become a major concern in Africa, where many climate models predict that it will cause among other things; decreasing
rainfall especially in arid areas, warmer temperatures and increasing severity and frequency of extreme weather events. Subsistence farmers
in developing world are unable to cope with such climate variability since they do not have the capital to invest in new adaptive practices. They
are also especially sensitive to climate change since they rely almost entirely on rain- fed agriculture. This study was carried out at Nguumo and
Makindu locations in Makindu sub-county, Makueni County. The main objective of the study was to examine the role of women in agroforestry
technologies as an adaptation strategy to climate change and variability in Makindu and Nguumo locations, Makindu sub county, Makueni County,
Kenya. Information was gathered using Semi- structured questionnaires which had some fixed/closed and open ended questions. Answers
for these questions were gathered through in-depth interviews with respondents, visiting various focused groups and obtaining their views
through discussions and also observations on various farms. Information was generally gathered from both men and women without necessary
targeting the women alone to avoid biased answers. For example women may feel that they carry most of household chores, therefore ignore
the participation of men. Linear regression analysis done to investigate the degree to which women empowerment in and access to agroforestry
technologies help in adapting to climate change and variability was fitted for both locations. Results obtained indicated that there was a positive
and a significant relationship between women empowerment and agroforestry technologies (p<0.05) in Makindu Location and Nguumo
Location. For the empowerment coefficient in Women for Makindu location and increment in women empowerment by one unit increases the
adoption rate by 0.432 units. For the coefficient in Nguumo location an increment of women empowerment by one unit increases the adoption
of agroforestry by 0.232 units. The study recommended enhancement of women capacity to make decisions, access resources equitably and
benefit from development initiatives like agroforestry. The Study concluded that empowering women in their challenges is very critical in women
adoption of agroforestry technologies.
