Role of Local Policies in Facilitating Adaptation of Smallholder Farming to Climate Change in Uganda

Revocatus Twinomuhangi ,Carolyn Natuhwera ,Edidah L Ampaire

doi:10.7176/jees/9-11-09

Abstract

The research was funded by a USAID project entitled ‘Enhancing Climate Resilience of Agricultural Livelihoods’ that was implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA in partnership with Makerere University Centre for Climate Research and Innovation (MUCCRI) and the National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO). The CGIAR program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) provided additional support. Abstract Smallholder farming in Sub-Saharan Africa is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and supportive local policies and plans are needed guide climate resilient farming systems. This study explores how local policies are enabling adaptation of smallholder farming to the impacts of climate change in Uganda. A mixed methods approach was used including review of policies and other literature, field assessments conducted Eastern and Central regions of Uganda. Data was collected from smallholder farmers, government officials and non-state actors at district, sub-county and village levels. Findings reveal that whereas Uganda has an elaborate national climate change policy framework that prioritizes the mainstreaming of climate change in policies and practices at all levels of government, development policies and plans at the local levels have not yet adequately incorporated climate change, and the adaptation practices adopted by smallholder farmers to address the negative impacts of climate change are more reactionary, and are not guided or influenced by local adaptation policies. Effective local adaptation policy and practice is constrained by non-inclusive policy formulation processes, institutional and human resource gaps, climate finance and unreliable climate information and advisory services. We suggest the strengthening local adaptive capacity through inclusive local adaptation policy formulation and implementation, improved climate information services and strong local institutional framework to support smallholder farmers build resilience to climate change. Keywords: climate risks, vulnerability, local adaption policies, resilient agriculture, Uganda DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-11-09 Publication date: November 30 th 2019

Highlights

Climate change has increasingly become a major challenge to agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods in Africa (CDKN 2014; IPCC 2015; Connolly-Boutin & Barry 2016) and over the past decade, adaptation planning has becoming central in climate policy (Preston et al 2015; Olazabal et al 2019)
3.1 Local policy instruments at district and sub-county levels Local policies in this study are defined to include plans, strategies, rules and guidelines formulated by a local government authority for purposes providing general direction towards the achievment of medium to long-term local development goals and or/decision making guided by the national vision, policy or strategic direction
The formal policies we identified to include written policies formulated, which according to the local government planning guidelines include: local development plans, ordinances, byelaws, and stand-alone climate change plans

Summary

Introduction

Climate change has increasingly become a major challenge to agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods in Africa (CDKN 2014; IPCC 2015; Connolly-Boutin & Barry 2016) and over the past decade, adaptation planning has becoming central in climate policy (Preston et al 2015; Olazabal et al 2019). The impacts of climate change fall hardest on smallholder farmers in developing countries because they have low ability to adapt and innovative policies and practices are still lacking to bolster local adaptive capacity (IIED 2013). Smallholder farming in this region is mainly rain-fed and highly vulnerable to climate risks (Lobell et al 2011; IIED 2013). Like other Sub-Saharan Africa countries, Uganda’s agricultural community is highly vulnerable to climate change. Between 1900 and 2009, average annual temperature in Uganda increased by between 0.8 - 1.5 °C, and between 2000 and 2009 rainfall averaged about 8% lower than the period between 1920 and 1969. Climate change projections suggest a hotter country with temperatures likely to increase by between 1.5 and 3OC in +50 years (Ministry of Water and Environment 2015). The vulnerability is very high due to dependence on agriculture and natural resources and high poverty levels (USAID 2013; Government of Uganda 2014a; World Bank Group 2015)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion