Assessment of farmers awareness and practices on climate smart agriculture in livestock production in Ngogwe Subcounty Buikwe District

Abstract

Climate change poses a growing threat to agricultural systems in Uganda, particularly the livestock sector, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This study assessed the awareness, practices, challenges and perceived benefits of climatesmart agriculture (CSA) among livestock farmers in Ngogwe Sub- County, Buikwe District. Using a cross-sectional field-based design, data was collected from 128 purposively selected livestock farmers through structured questionnaires and oral interviews. Slovin’s formula was applied to determine the sample size. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that while all respondents were aware of climate change and its adverse effects such as increased disease incidence, reduced pasture quality and water shortages, only 56.3% had heard of CSA and over half lacked understanding of its purpose. Commonly practiced CSA measures included vaccination, manure management, and cross-breeding, while agroforestry and rotational grazing were less adopted. Gender was significantly associated with CSA awareness, with female farmers being more informed than males. Key challenges identified included limited knowledge (68.0%) and lack of resources (41.4%). Despite these obstacles, 64.1% of farmers reported improved livestock productivity as a primary benefit of CSA, alongside reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved household nutrition. The study concludes that although awareness of climate change is high, knowledge and implementation of CSA practices remain limited. It recommends increased CSA training, gender-inclusive programming, access to financial support, strengthened extension services, and the integration of CSA into district development strategies to enhance sustainable livestock production and climate resilience in Buikwe District.