Community-based mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate hazards affecting livelihoods of cattle keepers in Kiruhura district, Uganda.

Abstract

This research project was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Economics, Busitema University and submitted to the Faculty of Natural Resource Economics and Environmental Sciences. The research, documented the major climate change hazards, community adaptations and coping strategies in Kihura District, one of the semi-arid areas of Uganda. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study was conducted in 8 sub counties of Kiruhura District, snamely Sanga, Kikatsi, Nyakashashara, Kanyaryeru, Kinoni, Kashongi, Kenshunga, Rushere town council. Forty-five households were subjected to semi-structured interviews, five (05) pastoral households were randomly sampled from each of the sub counties, and five (05) key informants were purposively chosen, that is, the District Environmental Officer, District Veterinary Officer, District Forestry Officer, Administrative Officer, District Planning Officer were interviewed with an open ended questionnaire. In addition, field observations, Remote Sensing, GIS and modeling techniques were used capture the trends of biophysical (land-use/cover; carbon stock) and socio-economic parameters. Results indicated that long drought spells, strong winds, increased pests and diseases especially termites, and increased frequency of floods are among the climate hazards faced by pastoralists and these resulted into high death rate of cattle, reduction in milk production which then affects their incomes. It was identified that major causes of these climate related hazards were increased deforestation, charcoal burning, and over grazing in the district. In addition, cattle keepers are faced with effects of the climate hazards such as, income reduction due to disruptions in liters of milk produced, flooding of roads, food insecurity, death of both livestock and lives of cattle keepers. Cattle keepers have come up with copying mechanisms such as training and formation of farmer associations, use of water conservation practices that is construction of dams, selling off of cattle, renting land, paddocking of the grazinglands,planting drought resistant pastures such as Grass and legumes that are planted on degraded pasture land in fenced fodder plots within the drought examples of Grasses cultivated in the range lands of Kiruhura are Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass), Stylosanthes guianensis (stylo), Chloris gayana whereas the legumes are Calliandra spp. and lablab. Those are the major coping strategies. There is need for sensitization for diversification of livelihoods, community participation in jointclimate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and strengthen community institutions for regeneration of dry lands.