Examining the adaptation measures to climate change and variability practiced by Livestock farmers in Kashozi Sub-County, Sheema District.

Abstract

This study examined the adaptation measures employed by livestock farmers in response to climate change and variability in Kashozi Sub County, Sheema district. The study intended to capture seasonal variations in rainfall and temperature, study the background characteristics of farmers, assess their awareness and knowledge on climate change, and find out the exact changes in climate observed in Sheema, the associated effects experienced and the adaptation strategies adopted by Livestock farmers. The study adopted a descriptive study design targeting Livestock farmers and a few households. With the aid a simple random sampling technique, 50 respondents were considered. Results showed that March-May (MAM) season exhibits the highest amount of rainfall and the least were registered during June-August (JJA). Generally the seasonal variations in the observed rainfall over the study area depicted a positive trend in rainfall and the area experiences two rainfall seasons (March to May and September to November) and there is a general increasing trend in the maximum temperatures with a gradient (0.0183) and (R2 = 0.027) and this trend is statistically significant. Most livestock farmers interviewed faced low yield harvested in terms of milk and beef quantities as the most experienced shock which causes loss of revenues, increased expenditures and poor quality of yields resulting from production too were experienced. As part of the coping mechanisms, farmers majorly employed water conservation practices such as water harvesting, they practiced both crop growing and livestock. Nevertheless, government should assist producers, especially livestock farmers and ranchers, in the transition to systems that keep the land in sod and other perennial vegetation, and should support rangeland management that promotes climate benefits. Should promote farm scraping that supports resilience to a changing climate and promotes carbon sequestration in woody biomass and soils