OPPORTUNITIES AND INNOVATIONS AVAILABLE TO SMALL HOLDER FARMERS IN COPING WITH RAINFALL VARIABLITY IN BUNYALA SUB-COUNTY, BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA

Research has shown that small-holder farmers in developing countries are more vulnerable to rainfall variability due to their high reliance on rainfed agriculture and poor coping capacity. This has led to crop failure and livestock death affecting the livelihood and food security status of the farmers. This has led to the need to find solutions to enable farmers secure sustainable livelihoods. It is against this background that this study sought to examine the opportunities and Innovations open to Small holder Farmers to enable them cope better to rainfall variability in Bunyala Sub-county.

Data collection tools used included, questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, field observation and photography was also used to examine the opportunities and Innovations open to Small Scale Farmers to enable them cope better. Bunyala Sub-County has about 15,245 households in six locations. Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select the required number of respondents. The stratification was based on the populations of six locations. A total of 384 households were randomly selected and sampled from the selected locations together with 11 key informants. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used while the results were presented in tables, figures and charts.  Findings of the study indicates that despite changes in livelihood activities to cope with the changing climatic conditions farmers still suffer loses and reduced income, there is however a ray of hope offered by the many opportunities and innovations farmers are undertaking. The study recommends that coping practices must be promoted while simultaneously strengthening long-term, sustainable institutional responses to help households adapt to rainfall variations.  There is need to promote livelihood diversification initiatives that enhance improved income generation at the same time ensuring they have minimal negative impacts on the environment. The farmers should be encouraged to make use of innovations and opportunities available such as Access to credit, Access to information, Access to facilities and services and technology. They should be sensitized on the need to engage in sustainable adaptation strategies such as planting drought tolerant crops and use of. agricultural technology. Small-scale farmers should focus on information gathering from agricultural and financial institutions to enhance social networks and improve on their financial capability. Local communities should be empowered through training and skills enhancement to improve small-scale agricultural productivity