Beef value chain is a major part of the livestock sector in Kenya contributing to food security,
livelihoods and the economy. Beef production mainly takes place in the arid and semi-arid
areas (ASALs) of the country. The value chain is climate sensitive whereby it is drastically
affected by effects of negative climate like droughts and floods. On the flipside, the value chain
is also a contributor to negative climate change through emitted methane greenhouse gas
(GHG) from the produced animals and the value chain by products and/or waste. The beef
value chain is characterized as both informal and fragmented, and driven by micro, small and
medium enterprises (MSMEs) actors. In the light of the aforementioned, as advocated through
Sustainable Development Goal 12, sustainability of the beef value chain would only be assured
through responsible production and consumption practices. Thus, establishing and analyzing
the status of integration of climate smart initiatives by MSMEs actors was a fundamental
necessity in generating data to inform policy on responsible consumption and production
practices within the beef value chain (sustainable production and consumption, and
environmental protection).
In spite of the necessity for studies on the status of integration of climate smart initiatives in
the beef value chain, prior to this study there existed scanty information on the same. In
particular, there was scanty information available prior to this study on how the existing beef
value chain governance interphase with the actors/stakeholders in terms of their integration,
required skills (knowledge, attitudes and practices) and how the same influence existing value
chain practices. The current study helped to unravel the existing status of climate smart
integration by MSMEs in order to inform policy on causes of observed worrying practices for
possible interventions. Moreover, the study serves to inform future decisions to be made on the
Kenya’s beef value chain in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goal number 12 on
responsible consumption and production practices.
The study was guided by the overall objective that sought to assess the status of integration of
climate smart initiatives by micro, small and medium enterprises in beef value Chain in Kajiado
County. The specific objectives were to (1) evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices of
micro, small and medium enterprises actors on integration of climate smart initiatives in the
beef value chain in Kajiado, (2) determine enablers of climate smart initiatives integration by
micro, small and medium enterprises in the beef value chain in Kajiado County, and (3 analyze
barriers of climate smart initiatives integration by micro, small and medium enterprises in the
beef value chain in Kajiado County.
Sustainable integration of CSA initiatives by MSMEs (dependent variable) is determined by
factors such as actors requisite skills (actors knowledge, attitude and practices), and enablers
and barriers of integration (independent variables) as modulated by existing legal and
institutional frameworks (laws, policies and institutions) (moderating variables). Enablers and
barriers of integration include negative and/or positive prevailing political, social, economic,
technological, legal and environmental issues of the value chain. The theoretical frameworks
used included those that advance arguments on technology adoption, which seeks to understand
and explain constructs for enablers and barriers of CSA integration by actors by taking into
consideration the core concepts of predicted CSA TIMPs integration based on perceived
usefulness and perceived ease of use of the introduced TIMPs. Additional factors that seemed
to have an impact on TIMPs acceptance by actors such as actors’ individual differences,
innovativeness, concern for privacy and security and peer pressure, were put into consideration
in the advanced arguments.
The study applied cross-sectional research that involved looking at KAP data from beef value
chain actor population at one specific point and correlational research where non-experimental
research methods were used to study the relationship between integration of MSME actors and
environmental integrity variables with the help of statistical analysis. Data for KAP was
collected by applying the cross-sectional research study from beef value chain actors (n=459;
farmers, traders, processors and consumers). The correlational research study design was
applied to collect data for enablers and barriers for integration of MSMEs and adoption of CSA
in the value chain sustainability in relation to environmental integrity (n=459).
There was an observed poor understanding of the concept of climate smart agriculture by beef
value chain actors, with more than half of them failing to understand the concept. There was
reported actors’ recognition that the beef value chain could affect the environment and that
over 70% of them were concerned about how their own practices could cause negative climate
change. There was actors’ willingness to take part in CSA initiatives that protected the
environment as long as they also brought about economic gains to the beef value chain by
ensuring maximum yields and profitability. An observation was made that there were in
existence legal and institutional frameworks for actors integration of CSA TIMPs within the
beef value chain in Kenya, albeit poor actors’ knowledge and compliance on them. In addition
there was reported impediment and barriers to CSA integration by beef value chain actors that
included lack of county budgetary investment and incentives, inadequate access to market
information, inadequate value chain networks for engagement, negative cultural and social
beliefs, and inadequate physical infrastructure.
The main interventions recommended by this study, based on the key observations made, for
enhanced integration of CSA TIMPs by beef value chain actors in ASAL counties like Kajiado
were (a) initiation of knowledge, attitude and practices capacity building programmes for beef
value chain actors for better understanding and adoption of the concept of climate smart
agriculture for sustainable beef production and consumption while ensuring environmental
integrity, (b) development of capacity building programmes by the county governments that
take into account attributes of actors’ recognition that the beef value chain has an impact on
climate change, actors’ willingness to take part in CSA initiatives that protect the environment
as long as they also brought about economic gains, and actors’ recognition that their practices
are key elements of sustainability, (c) engagement of actors by county governments in
awareness creation platforms that target actors’ education for enhanced knowledge and
compliance with existing legal and institutional arrangements for integration of MSMEs and
adoption of CSA TIMPs, and (d) county government to facilitate integration of CSA into the
beef value chain by providing county budgetary investments and incentives, providing market
access information services, creating value chain networks for engagement, creating positive
cultural and social beliefs, and providing adequate physical infrastructure.