Assessment of determinants and barriers to the uptake of ecosystem based adaptation practices in Lake Victoria crescent. A case study of Buyengo Subcounty Jinja District.

Abstract

Climate change impacts have become more pronounced across the globe affecting many sectors especially the agriculture. The agricultural sector is currently affected by impacts of climate change that have become more pronounced in Buyengo subcounty and Uganda as a whole due to dependence on rain fall. Interest in Agriculture has increased as a priority sector for climate adaptation in both national and international policy discussions. Ecosystem-based Adaptation have been proposed as potential adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers that depend on rainfed agriculture to adapt to adverse impacts of climate change. The study identifies which EBA are currently practiced and how gender is influencing the uptake of these EBA practices. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data among the randomly selected households using a semi-structured questionnaire with a proportionate number of 100 respondents among communities of Buyengo subcounty. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize biophysical and socioeconomic factors with both the presence of individual EbA practices. The results derived from community engagement show that EBA are widely practiced especially by the female (64.3%) and married with an age range of 26-35 years (26.7%) who attained Primary level of education and household size of five to ten. Therefore, uptake of EBA practices are influenced by both the socioeconomic and biophysical factors. Popularization of EBA practices should be done for those practices that draw knowledge from traditional and informal education to popularize EBAs should be organized at local context when determining the implications of climate change and solutions to adapt to these changes, this because climate change impacts varies across regions, nations, provinces and locally affects communities including and gender groups differently. EbA approaches that recognize gender roles, dynamics, understanding of gender, social differences and systemic discrimination should be addressed and popularized to make progress towards equality