Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Disaster Risk Studies
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Climate variability, Altitudinal variations, Kigezi highlands, Targeted interventions, Vulnerability index
Citation
Mugagga, F., Nakanjakko, N., Nakileza, B. & Nseka, D., 2020, ‘Vulnerability of smallholder sorghum farmers to climate variability in a heterogeneous landscape of south-western Uganda’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 12(1), a849. https://doi.org/10.4102/ jamba.v12i1.849