Economic impact of climate change among smallholder livestock farmers surrounding Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda

Abstract

A survey was done among smallholder farmers in Kiruhura and Isingiro districts around Lake Mburo National park, Uganda. Their mean household (H/h) size was 5.4±0.2 persons, with average land size of 40.6±0.5 and 3±0.4 acres in Kiruhura and Isingiro respectively. Kiruhura had more land for livestock keeping (82.1%) and Isingiro had more land for crop growing (58.9%). They kept 34.3±8.1 and 2.9±0.5 of cattle and goats 14.5±2.4 and 3.5±0.4 per H/h in Kiruhura and Isingiro respectively. In Kiruhura, during drought periods cattle herd sale off-take increased 2.3 times, the crude mortality rate increased 1.73 times and prices dropped by 46.8%. While for goats, off-take increased 1.3 times, crude mortality rate decreased by 47.2% and sale prices increased 2.1 times. In Kiruhura and Isingiro, the Total Gross Output from Agricultural Enterprises (TGOAE) per H/h was USD 17,382,3 and USD 1,722.8 respectively, of which 83.8% was from cattle milk output in Kiruhura and 67.6% was from crop output in Isingiro. In Kiruhura and Isingiro the economic cost (EC) due to drought per H/h was USD 10, 202.7 and USD 1,001.8 respectively which was 58.7% and 58.1% of TGOAE respectively. In Kiruhura, 83.5% of EC losses was caused by milk losses and 96% by crop losses in Isingiro. The frequency and amount of milk and food consumed per day by children and adults in Kiruhura and Isingiro districts were drastically reduced during drought periods. Through participatory approach, the climate change adaptation and mitigation measures should urgently be developed and adopted.