Influence of Literacy on the Smallholder Farmer’s Ability to Adapt to Drought in Pallisa District, Eastern Uganda
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Environment and Earth Science
Abstract
Functional literacy if well-applied increases lifelong livelihood opportunities for the smallholder farmers faced
with drought episodes. This study examined the influence of literacy on the smallholder farmer’s ability to adapt
to drought. The social-economic data was collected and analysed using both multi-stage and cross-sectional
sampling methods. A total sample of 153 smallholder farmers was randomly selected from Gogonyo, Kameke,
Kamuge and Kasodo sub-counties and administered household questionnaires. The study results revealed that
there was a very significant relationship between literacy (reading and writing) and adaptation to drought by the
smallholder farmers (p<0.05). This was brought about by remarkable functional literacy players. The farmers
recognised non-governmental organisations (65%) and farmer associations (20%) as the major contributors of
their functional literacy levels followed by the government (15%) through extension programmes. Specifically,
community public gathering including public announcements, farmer field schools with 70% and use of visual
aids (posters) –(20%) were the major modes of adaptation content delivery to the smallholder farmers followed
by the use of electronic media such as radios, television (6%) and use of public documents like newspapers and
magazines with 4%. However, the shortfalls in the acquisition of literacy were largely caused by the farmer’s
nonattendance to the schools and training, insufficient knowledge to comprehend, shortage of scholastic writing
materials, trekking longer distances to educational centres and inadequate financial resources to meet their
school requirements. Above all, the promotion of reading and writing literacy skills amongst the smallholder
farmers is more likely to trigger, improve and lead to the introduction of adaptation innovations that are critical
in improving the farmer’s resilience and livelihood status.
Description
Keywords
Smallholder farmers, Drought, Literacy, Adapt, Uganda
Citation
Barasa, B., & Catherine, AB David Mfitumukiza Makerere University Center for Climate Change Research & Innovations PO Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda FHI 360 PO Box 5768 Kampala, Uganda.