Assessing the effects of climate variability on the livelihoods of sugarcane out growers:

Abstract

Sugarcane growing is a livelihood activity that is largely carried out in Eastern Uganda, seen as a major source of income and employment by the farmers. This study assessed the effects of climate variability on the livelihoods of sugarcane growers in Namasagali sub-county, Kamuli district. It investigated the relationship between sugarcane growing and role of wetland ecosystems in the Namasagali sub-county. The study shows how sugarcane growing comparative contributing to Nalwekomba wetland’s capacity to buffer the worsening hazards of climate change such as extreme flooding and rising temperatures and their impacts. This study shows how sugarcane growers are considerably vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as impacts of rising air and surface temperatures and extreme flooding that do not favor the growth of sugarcane which in turn affects their yields and sources of income for sustainable livelihood. The study was based on questionnaires aided survey, direct field observations, and direct interviews with key informants. Data was collected from 51 sugarcane growers, chosen randomly from different villages in the study area. Entry and analysis of data was done using Microsoft Excel. The study established that sugarcane growing is a livelihood that many have increasingly resorted to in the past five years. A number of the farmers usually carry out sugarcane growing as independent out growers and not contract farmers hoping to get market along the way especially as first timers. It is a male dominated livelihood activity perhaps due to the land tenure rights in societies, or probably the fact that women care more for household food security and emphasis food crops while men care more about household income status. The study established that sugarcane farmers were adapting to extreme flooding through comparatively affordable ways by mainly constructing trenches, which drains the wetland. Unfortunately, this limits the capacity for the wetland to deal with the major challenge of the rising and high temperatures and prolonged droughts since sugarcane requires a lot of water to grow, and yet the fields would have been drained during the extreme flooding. In as much as sugarcane growing is a danger to wetland ecosystems, there is need to come up with and support alternative sources of livelihoods. Supporting several mitigation and adaptation program is also very vital to reduce conflicting loyalties in the face of climate variability.