Assessing small holder farmers’ perception on rainfall variability and adaptation strategies in Bugiri district

Abstract

This study assessed smallholder farmers’ perceptions on rainfall variability and the adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers in Buwuni, Bugiri District. Over the years, small-scale farmers in this location have depended on rain-fed agriculture and there has been frequent crop failure due to the irregular rainfall patterns, which have been common. Rainfall variability affects the soil’s water availability to crops, causing reduced crop production. The specific objectives of this study were to; (a) To evaluate trends in rainfall between 2012 and 2022 in Buwuni. (b) To explore farmers’ perceptions on rainfall variability in Buwuni (c) To explore small-scale farmers’ perceptions on adaptation strategies in Buwuni and (d) To explore the relationship between small-scale farmers’ perceptions on rainfall variability and adaptation strategies in Buwuni. The mixed-method approach was used in addressing the objectives of the study. The sample size of the study involved 100 respondents where simple random sampling was used to select the farmer households for which the study constituted and purposive sampling was used in selecting key informants with broad experience, opinions and deeper insights on issues of concern for this study. Questionnaires, interviews, field observations and review of documents were employed to generate the relevant data. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were adopted and the results that were subjected to STATA were presented using pie charts, bar graphs and frequency tables. The result of the study revealed that smallholder farmers in Buwuni experienced rainfall variability in the period of 2012-2022. The results of this study established a positive relationship between rainfall variation and the farmers’ perceptions in Buwuni. The major adaptation strategies adopted by small-scale farmers were mixed cropping (29%), growing crops that mature faster (25%), changing planting seasons (15%) and planting drought resistant crops (14%). The study concluded that rainfall variability is a fundamental challenge to smallholder farmers and they have adopted various adaptation strategies which are limited to address it in Buwuni. The study recommends that small-scale farmers should be encouraged to adopt the recommended adaptation strategies.