Farmers’ Agro-climatological Knowledge of Changes in Precipitation and Temperature Extremes in Semi-arid Nakasongola

Brian Owoyesigire ,Denis Mpairwe

doi:10.7176/jnsr/11-20-05

Abstract

Understanding agro-climatological knowledge of farmers to climate extremes provides useful information in developing appropriate adaptation strategies critical for enhancing resilience of agricultural systems to climate change. This study was conducted to establish farmers’ agro-climatological knowledge and perceptions to trends of climate extremes in semi-arid Nakasongola district. Climate extremes were derived by analyzing rainfall and temperature data sets from 1970 to 2013 using RClimdex software. Data to establish farmer’s knowledge were collected through face to face household interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics by SPSS. Annual total precipitation (PRCPTOT) index showed increasing non significant trends (P > 0.05). Heavy precipitation days (R10mm) showed weak positive non significant increasing trend (P < 0.05). Consecutive wet days (CWDs) were decreasing (P < 0.05) while consecutive dry days (CDDs) were significantly increasing. Percentage hot days were positively increasing while warm nights revealed a declining trend. Farmers’ perceived changes in rainfall and temperature extremes compared well with the observed climatological trends. CDDs and heavy precipitation days were the most perceived extremes. Key adaptation strategies included; fencing of grazeable land, use of drought tolerant pasture species, utilization of crop residues and pasture conservation, water harvesting and change of grazing time. Limited access to climate information and insecure land ownership rights were key barriers constraining adaptation. Therefore policies that ensure secure land ownership rights while improving farmers’ access to early warning information on climate events can effectively facilitate adaptation to climate change. Key words: Trends, precipitation, temperature, extremes and climate change DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/11-20-05 Publication date: October 31 st 2020

Highlights

Climate change will continue to stress and increase the vulnerability of agricultural systems especially those in semi-arid regions in supporting sustainable livelihoods (IPCC, 2007)
Climate change has affected the frequency of climate extremes (Owoyesigire et al, 2016) such as heavy precipitation days and consquently the rainfall patterns in Nakasongola district are rapidly changing
Donat et al(2013) reported that changes in rainfall and temperature extremes are among the key indicators of climate change

Summary

Introduction

Climate change will continue to stress and increase the vulnerability of agricultural systems especially those in semi-arid regions in supporting sustainable livelihoods (IPCC, 2007). Nakasongola district lies in the cattle corridor of Uganda where livestock production is the main agricultural activity that sustains livelihoods. Most common livestock species kept include cattle, goats, and sheep. These livestock species depend on grazing natural pastures in the rangelands. Availability of pastures and water resources in the rangelands of the cattle corridor is directly influenced by the amount of rainfall recieved and the surrounding ambient temperatures (MLWE, 2003). Climate change will affect all dimensions of food security through reduced availability of water and increased environmental temperatures (Sridharan et al, 2019; Beddington, et al 2011). Most systems have adopted to their historical range of events of extremes implying that the majority of events outside the desired and torelable range quite often have negative impacts to society

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Discussion

Conclusion