Perception on climate change and climate smart agricultural technologies among small holder mixed farmers in East Africa

Climate change is one of the major challenges facing small-scale farmers in East Africa. A study was conducted in Central and Eastern Uganda representing the humid and subhumid regions in East Africa respectively with the objective of identifying the implemented and missing adaptation strategies among small-holder mixed crop-livestock farmers in Uganda. Non-self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 80 farmers (implementers and non-implementers of planned adaptation strategies). A large number of farmers in Masaka (86.7%) observed change in climate in terms of decreased rainfall while most farmers in Ngora (66.7%) reported increased rainfall amounts over the past 30 years considered in the study. The major climate smart agricultural technologies identified in the two districts were: soil rainfall fertility management (75%), water harvesting and small scale irrigation (64.5%), soil and water conservation (65%) and use of drought tolerant forages (100%) and these practices are also implemented in Kenya and Tanzania. Change of planting dates, crop diversification, large scale pasture conservation, use of green houses for vegetable production, access to credit for adoption of adaptation measures, use of early warning systems, implementation of climate change awareness, and introduction of agroforestry systems were the missing strategies in the study areas. Therefore it is recommended that governments and organizations aiming at implementing adaptation strategies among smallholder mixed crop-livestock farmers should consider these factors prior to their execution of the projects.