Assessment of climate variability and milk prices among small holder farmers in Kiruhura District

Abstract

In spite of the global campaign to mitigate climate change, it remains one of the most pressing wicked problems. Climate change variations indicators significantly affects agriculture production and yields. Agriculture yield production which is often affected by climate variability has been shown to influence agriculture price products. This study was set out to assess the effect of local rainfall and temperature variations on milk prices in Kiruhura district. The two specific objectives of the study were (i) to describe the trends in cow milk prices, rainfall and temperature and (ii) establish the relationship between rainfall, temperature and cow milk prices. The results of the study revealed an increasing trend (0.1225x) in the mean average rainfall generally, decreasing trends (-0.0649x) in the temperature, and an increasing trend (35.742x) in the cow milk prices over the years (2010-2020). Further, the study showed a significant positive relationship between rainfall variations and the cow milk prices (r= 0.773, p-value=0.005) and a significant negative relationship between temperature variations and the cow milk prices (r= -0.790 p-value=0.005). The study recommends a need to establish meteorological stations at district local level well equipped with a good number of weather instruments to record not only rainfall as it is the case in the area, but also other weather elements such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed among others which are other climatic components that affect livestock, milk production, and milk prices in the area.