RP-Department of Geography

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Browsing RP-Department of Geography by Subject "Adaptation"

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    Determinants of Farmers’ Decisions to Adopt Adaptation Technologies in Eastern Uganda
    (2014) Shisanya, C.A.; Wambugu, Stephen K.; Kansiime, Monica K.
    Using the Heckman sample selectivity model, this study identified farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate variability in Eastern Uganda, in order to support development of public policy and investment that can help increase adaptation to climate variability. The study was based on the premise that farmers who perceive change in climate and respond (or fail respond) share some common characteristics, which are important in understanding the reasons underlying their response (or failure to respond). Stratified random sampling was used to obtain a sample of 353 households across the three agro-ecological zones in Eastern Uganda, from which data was collected. In addition, 9 focus group discussions and 23 Key Informants Interviews were conducted, targeting smallholder farmers and agricultural stakeholders in the region. Results indicate that farmers’ decisions to adopt adaptation technologies are primarily determined by their perceptions of rainfall adequacy (subjective index). The probability of adoption of adaptation technologies by male headed households and those with more members showed a 12% and 23% higher chance of adaptation respectively as compared to their counterparts. These factors relate to labour endowment, implying the need to build strong social protection mechanisms at household and community levels. The probability of responding to climate variability also varied by location with a 15% and 6% smaller chance for location in Mbale and Sironko respectively as compared to Pallisa. Access to weather information is the single most important factor affecting farmers’ perceptions of climate variability, implying the need to develop and dissemination appropriate weather information to guide farmers in making adaptation decisions.
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    Effectiveness of Technological Options for Minimising Production Risks under Variable Climatic Conditions in Eastern Uganda
    (African Journals Online, 2014) Kansiime, K.M; Shisanya, A.C; Wambugu, K.S
    This study employed the Just and Pope stochastic production frontier to assess the effectiveness of farmerpreferred technologies in reducing production risk related to climate variability in Eastern Uganda. Data for this study were obtained from 315 households, 9 focus group discussions and 23 key informants drawn from Mbale, Pallisa and Sironko districts. Results show that farmers employed a number of technologies/practices strategically in response to seasonal variations in climatic conditions. Most of the technologies showed significant positive impacts on mean yield, but had different risk-reducing effects on yield. Changing sowing dates and crop varieties, soil bunds, compost manure, cover crops, crop rotation and intercropping showed significant (P<0.05) riskreducing effects on yield. However, their effects varied across agro-ecological zone, except soil bunds and compost manure whose use consistently exhibited both yield-increasing and risk-reducing effects across all the agro-ecologies. Farmer perceptions of technology effectiveness, to some extent, agreed with econometric evidence from this study. Study results have two implications: firstly, the need to develop and disseminate location specific adaptation technologies to reduce production risks, instead of blanket recommendations of similar adaptation measures across locations; and secondly, the need to focus not only on the technical aspects of technologies, but also the social dimensions such as perceptions of smallholder farmers of technology effectiveness, if adoption and retention of adaptation technologies is to be enhanced. Development and research organisations promoting adaptation options should involve farmers in technology evaluation so as to recommend the most feasible options given farmers’ situations and local perceptions.
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    Smallholders’ Coping Strategies in Response to Climate Variability in Semi-Arid Agro-Ecozones of Upper Eastern Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2022) Ngetich, Felix K.; Mairura, Franklin S.; Musafiri, Collins M.; Kiboi, Milka N.; Shisanya, Chris A.
    Rainfed agriculture dominates food production systems in arid and semi-arid agro-ecozones. Water is a key limiting factor to crop growth in the small-scale farming systems of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. Climate adaptation is a fundamental and necessary response to the threat posed by the current and future climatic changes in semi-arid farming systems of the SSA region. This study was implemented to identify the socioeconomic drivers and determinants of adaptation to rainfall variability at the farm level in contrasting agroecological zones of Kenya. Two hundred and seventy (270) farmers were selected. The survey was implemented in Mbeere South, Meru South, and Maara Sub-Counties in Kenya to determine farmers’ perceptions of climate variation during the decade that preceded the survey and climate adaptation strategies that farmers implemented. The most common climate adaptation strategies included the use of terraces (89%), early maturity crop varieties (82%), and intercropping (79%). In comparison, the least common strategies included waterharvesting strategies (29%), trenches (35%), and staggering planting dates (46%). Farmers in low potential agro-ecological zones recorded lower education levels, less secure land tenure systems, and poor access to training, extension, and credit facilities necessary for successful climatic adaptation strategies. The study findings indicated that farmers in low potential zones, including Mbeere South Sub-County, faced more risks due to the nature of climatic variation in this agro-ecozone. Farm socioeconomic characteristics were important factors that influenced farmer adaptation, including gender and age differentials, education attainments and agricultural training, farm labor availability, household food security status, and preceding annual occurrences of crop failure. There is a need to develop holistic approaches that incorporate scientific findings from the researchers and the local household-based strategies that can enhance risk assessment and management, coping and adaption strategies, and decision-making by multiple stakeholders.