The impact of climate change and variability on agricultural production: Adaptation strategies in Teso sub-region of eastern Uganda
Abstract
250 words
Climate change is emerging as the most important environmental
problem facing modern society. Africa in particular is highly
vulnerable to climate change and variability due to heavy reliance
on rainfed agriculture by the majority of its population. Past
experience in Uganda shows climate change related disasters
with more devastating effects on the agricultural sector, physical
infrastructure and the health sector. This study analyses factors
that influence farmer’s choice of climate change adaptation
strategies and impacts on agricultural production in the savanna
grassland agro-ecological zone of Teso sub-region of Uganda.
Both Poisson and negative binomial technology adoption models
were used to determine factors that influence farmers’ choices
of climate adaptation strategies. Ricardian analysis was done
to understand climate change impacts on agriculture using
climate and production data for 1980-2010. Results from this
study indicate that increase in rainfall/precipitation, age of the
farmer, access to credit, irrigation, access to asset, climate
extension services and climate information significantly
influenced number of climate adaptation strategies used by
farmers in Teso. Increase in rainfall due to climate change and variability led to loss in cereal (millet) output by 2.8%. It is
evident from this study that climate change and variability has
had significant impact on agricultural production in Teso/Uganda,
hence the need to promote adaptation strategies. The policies
that promote climate change adaptation should aim at creating
credit institutions to support farmers, developing irrigation
infrastructure and provision of both climate and agricultural
information on better technologies for farmers in Teso and
Uganda as a whole.
Subjects
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