Effectiveness of Technological Options for Minimising Production Risks under Variable Climatic Conditions in Eastern Uganda
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Date
2014
Authors
Kansiime, K.M
Shisanya, A.C
Wambugu, K.S
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journals Online
Abstract
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.
Description
Article
Keywords
Adaptation, climate variability, Just and Pope Framework
Citation
Kansiime, K. M., Shisanya, A. C., & Wambugu, K. S. (2014). Effectiveness of technological options for minimising production risks under variable climatic conditions in Eastern Uganda. African Crop Science Journal, 22, 859-874.