Assessment of the impacts of climate change on livestock water sources and livestock production: Case study, Karamoja region of Uganda

Abstract

AbstractThe study examined the impact of climate change on livestock water sources and livestock production using the Karamoja region of Uganda as a case study. The study's objectives were to determine the general public's perception of climate change, identify the major climatic factors affecting livestock productivity in Karamoja, and assess the extent to which climate change has affected water sources for animals and productivity of livestock in the study region. A cross‐sectional survey design, as well as a quantitative and qualitative data analysis, was used in the study. The total population of the study unit was 258, and the sample size was 222, which was chosen specifically through a purposive and random sampling technique. From the results and discussion of the study sample, while the general public was aware of and understands climate change, the study concluded that the likely causes of climate change were numerous, including deforestation, charcoal burning, natural events such as lake currents, carbon emissions, and land degradation. In Karamoja, climate change is causing erratic and uneven rainfall, drying of surface water bodies such as dams and rivers, high temperatures, deforestation, and outbreaks of livestock diseases. The major climatic factors identified that affect livestock water sources and productivity are higher temperatures, which have led to decreases in water levels and drying of seasonal surface water sources that livestock depend on, as well as flooding of some regions during heavy rains. The results from the regression model also showed that climate change has affected livestock water sources and productivity, with an 84.7% impact. The following adaptation measures have been proposed: diversification of livestock and crop varieties, agroforestry, awareness and sensitization campaigns, increased government and partner investment in water harvesting and agroforestry schemes, and improved capacity of all organizations and institutes involved.