Briefing Paper

East African Agriculture and Climate Change: A Comprehensive Analysis – Kenya

“Kenya is an ecologically diverse nation located on the Indian Ocean in eastern Africa. Most of the land is classified as arid or semi-arid, yet at higher elevations lush montane forests are found. Kenya is home to the second-highest peak in Africa, glacier-capped Mount Kenya. Kenya has a population of 40 million people. The main crops are maize, tea, and potatoes. While the relative contribution of agriculture to GDP is declining, approximately 75 percent of the country’s labor force is still engaged in farming. Along with the comparatively slow growth of real GDP per capita since 1980, this heavy engagement in agriculture makes climate change adaptation critical for Kenya’s population over the next 30 or 40 years.”