Irish Potato Production Coping Strategies among Small-Scale Farmers Amid Climate Change and Variability in Narok South Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Small-scale farmers in Kenya face intertwined climate-related, agronomic and market constraints in Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production. This cross-sectional study describes the coping practices and production considerations reported by potato-growing households in four wards of Narok South Sub-County. A multistage sampling procedure yielded 393 survey interviews, with 368 questionnaires included in the reported quantitative analyses; twelve focus group discussions provided complementary qualitative accounts. Descriptive frequencies and percentages were used to characterise farm and household responses. Among respondents, 75.0% reported earthing up, 61.1% delayed harvesting, 58.2% planting tubers deeper than usual, and 53.5% mulching after planting. Varietal selection (87.2%), early land preparation (83.4%) and climate-information sourcing (82.6%) were frequently identified as important production considerations. Only 18.8% reported establishing irrigation systems, and 20.4% reported regular soil testing. The household responses also indicate economic pressures, including high reported levels of meal skipping and reduced expenditure. These findings document self-reported practices and perceived priorities within the sampled farming communities rather than measured effects of individual practices on potato yield or independently established climatic trends. Targeted extension on locally appropriate agronomy, soil assessment, seed selection and market-oriented handling could be evaluated as ways to support informed decisions under production uncertainty.