The determinants and effectiveness of farmer’s’ adaptation strategies to rainfall variability in Lwampanga Sub-county, Nakasongola district.
Abstract
Rainfall variability has posed significant challenges to ecosystems and societies, prompting the need for vigorous adaptation strategies. The overall goal of the study was to examine effectiveness and determinants of farmer’s adaptation strategies to rainfall variability in Lwampanga sub-county. Specifically, the study sought to identify strategies used by farmers to adopt to rainfall variability, and their determinants of farmer’s adaptation strategies, and their effectiveness towards minimizing the impacts of rainfall variability. The study employed mixed research approaches that is quantitative and qualitative research approaches. To further validate and strengthen the research’s conclusions, a descriptive approach of a cross sectional study was employed. Data was collected through field and household surveys, interviews and direct field observations; descriptive data was analysed using frequencies and percentages. The findings were then presented inform of tables, pie charts and bar graphs. The study findings revealed that rainfall variability has had numerous impacts on local communities such as wilting of crops (97.5%), increased food insecurity (93.8%), cattle starvation and death (83.8%) and reduced water availability (77.5%), reduced grass for animals (52.5%), outbreak of livestock diseases (46.3%) and loss of income (42.5%). Farmers have employed a number of strategies to lessen the impacts of rainfall variability such as mulching, cover cropping, mixed cropping, small scale irrigation, planting drought resistant crops among others. Adaptation was determined by numerous determinants like age, education, income levels, gender, land tenure, farmer’s experience among others. The level of effectiveness of existing community adaptation strategies was significantly evaluated through household interviews and surveys. Furthermore, the effectiveness of implemented strategies was found to vary significantly based on conditions and the alignment of strategies with local needs and vulnerabilities. The study findings revealed that 54(67.5%) respondents reported the strategies being very effective, 24(30.0%) respondents reported the strategies being fairly effective and 2(2.5%) respondents also revealed that the strategies were not effective. The study also found out that the existing strategies especially mulching and mixed cropping have been effective in helping farmers cope with rainfall variability and enhancing resilience. The study concluded that improving and strengthening human capital through education, programmes and extension services at all levels will improve the capacity to adapt to rainfall variability impact.
Key words: Rainfall variability, Determinants, Effectiveness, Farmers.