
Makueni and Kitui counties geographically lie in ASAL region. Most households in these counties rely on subsistence rain-fed agriculture. Agricultural losses due to climatic shocks, pests and lack of technologies have increased in recent years while employment opportunities remain limited. As a result, food insecurity and malnutrition levels have gone up in the two counties.
Smallholder farming households in these counties face challenges due to; insufficient access to and high costs of climate-friendly technologies and inputs, poor infrastructure and inadequate information on agricultural practices and markets, which further prevents them from adapting their agricultural practices to the changing climate in an environmentally friendly way. Supporting climate change adaptation, promoting climate-friendly technologies and green employment opportunities, and thus preventing further degradation of the environment are not only crucial for productivity of rural farmers in these counties but for sustainable economic development and growth of the entire country.