Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are at a greater risk to the impacts of climate variability. We therefore sought to assess vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in Kigezi highlands of south-western Uganda. A vulnerability index that integrates selected socio-e...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Jàmbá |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/849 |
| _version_ | 1811229788217540608 |
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| author | Frank Mugagga Noeline Nakanjakko Bob Nakileza Denis Nseka |
| author_facet | Frank Mugagga Noeline Nakanjakko Bob Nakileza Denis Nseka |
| author_sort | Frank Mugagga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are at a greater risk to the impacts of climate variability. We therefore sought to assess vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in Kigezi highlands of south-western Uganda. A vulnerability index that integrates selected socio-economic and biophysical variables was obtained through key informant interviews and household surveys, from 230 conveniently sampled sorghum farming households within three sub-counties differentiated by altitude. Rainfall data were obtained from Uganda National Meteorological Authority. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 23) and STATA software to generate inferential and descriptive statistics, notably frequencies, percentages and chi-square tests, to establish relationship between variables. Content analysis was used to generate themes emerging from the qualitative data. The overall vulnerability index results indicate Kashambya as the most vulnerable (6.9), followed by Bubare (1.8), while Kamwezi was the least vulnerable (–0.2). This study recommends targeted extension services such as access to customised weather information and better agronomic practices to reduce smallholder sorghum farmers’ vulnerability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:19:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-266fa3aea63e44848e4b05e3f41d35cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1421 2072-845X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T10:19:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Jàmbá |
| spelling | doaj.art-266fa3aea63e44848e4b05e3f41d35cf2022-12-22T03:37:07ZengAOSISJàmbá1996-14212072-845X2020-04-01121e1e610.4102/jamba.v12i1.849315Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western UgandaFrank Mugagga0Noeline Nakanjakko1Bob Nakileza2Denis Nseka3Department of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, KampalaDepartment of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, KampalaDepartment of Environmental Management, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, KampalaDepartment of Geography, Geo-Informatics and Climatic Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, KampalaSmallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are at a greater risk to the impacts of climate variability. We therefore sought to assess vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in Kigezi highlands of south-western Uganda. A vulnerability index that integrates selected socio-economic and biophysical variables was obtained through key informant interviews and household surveys, from 230 conveniently sampled sorghum farming households within three sub-counties differentiated by altitude. Rainfall data were obtained from Uganda National Meteorological Authority. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 23) and STATA software to generate inferential and descriptive statistics, notably frequencies, percentages and chi-square tests, to establish relationship between variables. Content analysis was used to generate themes emerging from the qualitative data. The overall vulnerability index results indicate Kashambya as the most vulnerable (6.9), followed by Bubare (1.8), while Kamwezi was the least vulnerable (–0.2). This study recommends targeted extension services such as access to customised weather information and better agronomic practices to reduce smallholder sorghum farmers’ vulnerability.https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/849climate variabilityaltitudinal variationskigezi highlandstargeted interventionsvulnerability index |
| spellingShingle | Frank Mugagga Noeline Nakanjakko Bob Nakileza Denis Nseka Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda Jàmbá climate variability altitudinal variations kigezi highlands targeted interventions vulnerability index |
| title | Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda |
| title_full | Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda |
| title_short | Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda |
| title_sort | vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south western uganda |
| topic | climate variability altitudinal variations kigezi highlands targeted interventions vulnerability index |
| url | https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/849 |
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