dc.description.abstract |
Adaptation is no longer optional for farmers given the hostile effects climate variability
poses on livelihood. However, adaptation strategies employed vary across locations and
categories of farmers. This study investigated the effect of adaptation strategies on
livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers in Kampala district, Uganda. Specifically,
the study sought to establish the effect of technological development adaptation
strategies on livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers in Kampala district, determine
the effect of government agricultural support programs on livelihood of smallholder
vegetable farmers in Kampala district, assess the effect of farm level adaptation
strategies on livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers in Kampala district, and to
establish the effect of farm financial management adaptation strategies on livelihood of
smallholder vegetable farmers in Kampala district. The study was anchored on
pragmatism research paradigm and was grounded in three main theories: diffusion of
innovations theory; action theory of adaptation and sustainable livelihood theory. The
study adopted an explanatory sequential research design. A mixed research approach
was used. The target population included 1083 smallholder vegetable farmers in
Kampala district, from which a sample of 292 respondents was selected using stratified
simple random sampling technique. The study also targeted 10 key informants that
included the 5 officials of the Directorate of gender, community services and production
and 5 NAADS officials who were selected purposively. Both quantitative and
qualitative data were gathered for this study. Quantitative data was collected using
semi-structured questionnaires and later analyzed using descriptive and inferential
statistics. While qualitative data was gathered using interview schedules and
observation guides and later subjected to content analysis. Validity was determined by
consulting experts. Reliability was determined through pilot study in Entebbe
municipality, Wakiso District and a reliability value of 0.800 was obtained using
Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Basing on multiple regression model r 2 was 0.775
showing that 77.5% of the variation in livelihood of smallholder farmers can be
explained by climate variability adaptation strategies. Technological development
adaptation strategies (β 1 =0.357, p=0.000) had a significant effect on livelihood of
smallholder vegetable farmers; government agricultural support programs (β 2 = -0.037,
p>0.05) did not have a significant effect on livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers;
farm level production adaptation strategies (β 3 =0.557 and p=0.000) had a significant
effect on livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers and farm financial management
adaptation strategies (β 2 = 0.082 and p>0.05) did not have a significant effect on
livelihood of smallholder vegetable farmers. Qualitative findings revealed that
smallholder farmers sold-off household assets such as crop harvests, livestock like pigs,
chicken and goats in order to generate income to purchase farm adaptation
requirements, that Covid-19 rendered financial management skills and training
important to farmers more than ever before. The study concludes that some adaptation
strategies enhanced livelihood while others did not, smallholder farmers diversified
adaptation strategies and that adaptation strategies were interrelated. The study
recommends that KCCA promotes adaptation strategies as a package for smallholder
farmers; strengthening of government agricultural support and financial management
adaptation strategies and consolidation of public-private partnerships in addressing
hindrances to adaptation by smallholder farmers in Kampala district. Further research
should be carried out on climate variability adaptation strategies and livelihood of
smallholder urban livestock farmers. |
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