Climate change perception and adaptation among farmers in Buhimba Sub-County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of local small-scale farmers about climate change perception and how they have adapted to it. The study objectives were; 1) to identify perception to climate change, 2) to identify how people adapt to climate change, and 3) to assess factors that determine adaptation actions. The findings of the study are preceded by socioeconomic characteristics of the study participants and response rate. The study collected data from 75 respondents using questionnaires. The findings indicated that The Household perception and knowledge of climate change in Buhimba Sub-county were; increase in temperature 61.3%, increase in rainfall 30.6%, experience heavy winds 88%, experienced persistent drought, 97.3%, hail storms 100%, and erratic rains 93.3% and flooding 86.6%. Respondents further perceived climate change to have resulted into drying of crops, 20% and decreased amount of food 18.7% and drying of pastures. The methods used by people to adapt to climate change include; 34.7% of the respondents revealed that delayed planting is the major climate change adaptation measure as they respond to persistent drought, 21.3% reported post-harvest practices to reduce harvest spoilage, 13.3% reported tree planting, 12% are doing nothing, 8% irrigation and water harvesting while 1.3% cover crops. The enabling factors to climate change adaptation strategies are; successful model farmer 65.3 %, availability of information 46.6% and technical support 41.3%. The factors hindering adaptation are; majority of the respondents lacked information 68%, reported lack of resources 77.3%, lack of skills 62.7%, lack of technical support 82.6% and not being aware of the existing adaptation responses 60%. The study recommended that further research should be conducted on the same study but covering the whole Uganda to obtained a large sample size that can be analyzed to get generalizable results.