Adoption of Purple Tea Farming as a Coping Mechanism to Climate Variability and Change a Case Study of Kericho County Kenya

Abstract

With the current climatic conditions, purple tea is considered favorable in terms of productivity, health, market and resistance to changing weather patterns (Pradip Baruah, 2013). Although, there are widespread adaptation measures they are not fully being realized due to socio-economic and other constraints. The study aimed at establishing the rate of adoption of purple tea farming, determining the socio-economic factors that hinders adoption and determining the role of purple tea farming for carbon sequestration. Various sampling techniques used involved; purposive, systematic, cluster stratified and random sampling to ensure representation of the whole area. Data was collected by use of CO2 and RGR algorithm, questionnaires, in-depth interviews, literature review, observation and photography. The data was analyzed by use of both descriptive and inferential statistics to answer the research questions. The establishment rate was determined and observed that availability of land was a major setback by farmers adopting the new variety with most famers owning less than 6 acres of land that indicates 82.6% while few famers had acres above 6 that indicates 17.4%. It’s evident that, the extension services were rendered highly at 26% to farmers with more than 10 acres of land while with least acres of land (2 acres) the extension services was low 4%. The purple variety had high mean value during wet and dry seasons at 448 kgs and 423 kgs respectively. While the green variety had the least mean value at 337 kgs and 320 kgs respectively. Thus, purple variety was preferred than green variety as adoption mechanism to climate variability and change. The results of negative socio-economic implications indicated that; poor extension services (30.3%), lack of training-farmer field schools (11.1%), poor access to credit (21.1%), and limited market channels (28.2%) and decreased plucking days-change of weather (9.3%) were the major factors hindering establishment of Purple Tea farming. The results of positive socio-economic implications of growing purple variety showed that; little investment (7%), income level (76%), little risk on crop failure (4%) and availability of labour (13%) were major factors that influences the adoption of purple tea variety. This was due to purple tea variety fetching considerable income levels which makes it considered in the market and production capabilities. Results for various chemical and sensory parameters were: Total Polyphenols; TRFK 6/8 26.54%, K-Purple 25.86%, and TRFK 91/1 at 23.87%. Catechins; K-Purple 13.79%, TRFK 91/1 at 11.24% and TRFK 6/8 8.5%. Garlic acid; TRFK 91/1 (1.09%), TRFK K-Purple (0.97%) and TRFK 6/8 (0.88%). Caffein; TRFK 91/1 (2.33%), TRFK K-Purple (1.89%), TRFK 6/8 (1.16%). Theanine; TRFK 6/8 (2.18%), TRFK 91/1 (1.16%), K-Purple (1.1%). The results for purple and green tea variety on drought (90%) and (10%), frost (83%) and (17%), hailstone (71%) and (29%) and pests and diseases (70%) and (30%) resistance respectively showed that purple tea variety was highly rated for impacts of climate variability and change. This was analyzed and noted to be due to the texture and colour that was achieved through advanced hybridization which has led to adaptation to climate change. It was also noted that the purple tea variety mean (%) rate of above ground CO2 sequestration (64.81%) was relatively higher than (35.18%) below ground CO2 sequestration. The difference of the complete sequestration cycle was the time as age and growth rate of tea variety. Thus, increasing the CO2 sequestration ratio in both wet and dry season. This is due to its resistance to the changing climatic conditions. Whereby the rate of survival of purple variety is greater than that of the green variety. The findings of the study are expected to work as a turning point for tea farmers to realize and acknowledge the benefits of purple tea farming as far as economic, environmental, health and other spheres are concerned. It is expected that the findings of this study will enable scientific researchers and policy makers make wise decisions regarding the adoption of available adaptation measures to achieve the sustainable development in Kenya.