Analyzing the implications of drought on food security in Nakasongola District

Abstract

This study was about analyzing the implications of drought on food security in Nakasongola district aimed at exploring community perceptions on drought occurrence, perceptions on food security status, and relationship between drought occurrence and food security in Nakasongola District. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using SPSS. Descriptive statistics was done to examine the research objectives. From the findings, majority (61.5%) of the respondents agreed that there was drought in Nakasongola district, with 80.5% saying these droughts take at least 6 months annually. Deforestation and burning of fossil fuels (45%) was the major cause of drought, other causes being overgrazing (20%), Bush fires (15%), not enlightened to modern farming methods (12%) and poor farming methods (8%). The examined measures of drought were explained by 36.5% (R-square = 0.365) of the variation in food security in Nakasongola district. The study concluded that, the local community members perceive droughts as a significant challenge that has been increasing due to the above mentioned causes as well as climate patterns, with return periods of up to 4 years in Nakasongola and the existence of drought has had negative effect on the crop production. The study recommended that, the government should Continue with the sensitization of Climate Change with clear emphasis on the causes of drought e.g. deforestation, overgrazing, and bush fire, improve on the timing of distribution of support from the FISP (Farmer Input Subsidy Program), employ more extension officers, build offices nearer to farmers this will help bridge the interaction gap between MoA and the smallholder farmers, consider improved water resource management; water harvesting, dams and supply of irrigation equipment.