**4. Results and discussion**

#### **4.1 Farmers perception on local weather changes in the recent years**

In order to understand what farmers perceive or belief in relation to weather changes and its resultant effects to maize and wheat growing activities, they were asked to use rainfall parameter; a familiar phenomena to gauge what they percieved as changes that may have occurred at their local level. They were asked to state whether *"in the recent years there were any changes in rainfall patterns experienced by them and that even the timing for maize and wheat growing had become uncertain".* A total of 142 (36.7%) farmers strongly agreed with the statement and a further 198 (51.2%) agreeing as well. They further affirmed that the change in rainfall pattern experienced had led to declines and losses in maize and wheat production as captured in **Figure 2**.

The findings reveal that in total, over 340 (87.8%) of the farmers agreed that in the recent years they had experienced changes in rainfall patterns and even the

**Figure 2.**

*Farmers perception on prevailing local weather changes affecting their crop production in Uasin Gishu County.*

*Integrating Local Farmers Knowledge Systems in Rainfall Prediction and Available Weather… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96504*

timing for maize and wheat growing had become uncertain and contrary to what they have known over time. This clearly show that local farmers can identify with the fact that the changing climate is areal phenomena and has been experienced locally at their farm level. The poor maize crop shown in **Figure 3** as captured during the field study help to illustrate what farmers are reporting in relation to losses they have incurred during their farming activities.

**Figure 3.** *Poor maize crop due to erratic rains in Kesses Sub-County of Uasin Gishu County, Kenya.*

The finding in this study are similar to finding from [37] where farmers indicated that climate has been changing in the previous five years, in that rains start earlier, rains end latter and the maximum number of dry spells has increased. A comparison of the meteorological records with farmers' assessment of climate change showed a large disparity, with few of the stated changes being evident in the long term record. It is apparent that changes occurring in local and global weather patterns as a result of the changing climate will challenge to a great extend the indigenous knowledge systems in weather prediction otherwise reliable for centuries. A great need for climate and weather information to be delivered to those engaged in farming activities to supplement indigenous knowledge systems is critical in mitigating this phenomena.
