Farmers perception on the effects of rainfall variability on maize production in Soroti district

Abstract

Climate variability has a large effect on the agriculture sector and, consequently on maize production for residents of Soroti District and other regions of Uganda. For primary data a sample of 50 respondents was selected through simple random sampling techniques, for time series secondary data of temperature and rainfall of Soroti district was analysis based on a sample of 20 years (2002-2021) that was selected. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the farmers’ perception on the effect of rainfall variability on maize production in Soroti District in Uganda. The study further examined the impact of future climate variability scenarios to see how maize production in the sub humid and semi-arid areas will respond to climate variability by assessing the effects of climate variability on maize production. Based on the results, it can be concluded that temperature has significantly increased over the years and that rainfall has significantly reduced. Increases in temperature could shorten the length of the growing season with temperature variation expected to have significant impacts on the agroecological zones. Rainfall variability effects on maize production resulted to severe and prolonged droughts, floods and changes to growing seasons that have significant effects for water supply, food security and in turn human welfare as well as harmful on land resources and, otherwise, can lead to irreversible impacts on biological diversity. Just as agricultural productivity gains have always been closely linked to poverty reduction, productivity decline in tropical and subtropical agriculture that will result from climate change can be expected to increase the depth and severity of poverty. To mitigate rainfall variability and provide effective adaptation measures, it is important for the government, research units, and private sectors to invest resources in training farmers and supporting them against further adverse climatic conditions.