Journal of Natural Sciences Research www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3186 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0921 (Online) Vol.6, No.8, 2016 94 Smallholder Livestock Farmers' Knowledge Base and Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in Wabinyonyi Sub-County, Nakasongola District, Uganda Prossy Nakibengo* 1 DaudaWaiswa 1 Ezrah Natumanya 2 1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Makerere University, P.O.Box 7062 Kampala- Uganda 2. Department of Environmental Management, Makerere University P.O.Box 7062 Kampala- Uganda Abstract The effects of climatic change are increasingly becoming more felt among smallholder livestock farmers. Adaptation to a reasonable extent depends on farmers’ local knowledge, based on unusual changes in weather patterns such as; extreme and prolonged weather events resulting in changes in timing of and conditions for grazing. Four focus group discussions with smallholder livestock farmers' and four key informants were held with respondents from Nakasongola District. Some of the drivers of climatic change were mentioned as anthropogenic activities such as massive deforestation for wood fuel and charcoal burning. Adaptation strategies were early morning grazing, exchange of animals for grazing rights, selling off livestock at giveaway prices, reservedly fencing off part of the land to use during the dry season, burning dry grass in anticipation of better grass, and moving long distances in search of water. Limited knowledge about climatic change drivers, pressures and negligence by smallholder farmers limits small holder farmers’ adaptive capacity. Some adaptive strategies like periodic bush burning during the dry seasons were counterproductive to climatic change mitigation efforts. The study concludes that smallholder livestock farmers’ resilience to climatic change is low and needs to be enhanced. The local knowledge based more on the observed weather and climatic changes rather than on properly conceptualised drivers and pressures limits their adaptive capacities and strategies. This also limits mitigation efforts against climatic change impacts. Keywords: Livestock, Climate, Variability, Adaptation, Knowledge Base. 1. Introduction Climate change has exposed humanity to unpredictable patterns and extreme weather conditions, manifested by changes in cropping seasons, as well as changes in regional climatic patterns (Hope.K, 2009). The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) presents a summary of the expected adverse impacts of climate change based on projections of temperature, precipitation and humidity. This clearly presents significant shifts from conditions in the 20 th century and underscores increase in incidences of heat waves, with extreme weather events such as floods and drought. There is increasing concern regarding changes in climatic variables that are threatening the transformation of livelihoods in resource-constrained rural communities of East Africa (Tafesse et al., 2013; Watson, 2010; Smit et al., 2000). In Uganda today, Climate change is one of the big challenges facing the Country. The Ugandan Agricultural Census (UBOS and MAAIF, 2014) indicate that out of the two million agricultural households that experienced food shortage in 2012, 1.8 million (91.5%) experienced severe drought. This severe drought has contributed to lowering of the water table, subsequent drying up of water sources hence low milk production, death of cattle, and food insecurity within cattle corridor areas such Nakasongola (NEMA, 2008). Nakasongola district is a known cattle grazing area where over 60% of the population depends on livestock farming for their livelihood (Government of Uganda, 2009). Nakasongola is also one of the most vulnerable districts in Uganda’s cattle corridor due to extreme variability with notably less rain and increasing temperatures (MWE, 2010). This posses a big threat to smallholder livestock farmers who depend on rainfall rangelands and natural water stocks. The value of local knowledge as a complement for scientific research in climate science is now being more broadly recognized, including by the IPCC. Many agriculture dependent communities rely largely on local knowledge to adapt to climatic change impacts. This study therefore assessed the smallholder livestock farmers' knowledge base and its impact on their adaptation to climate change impacts in Wabinyonyi Sub-County, Nakasongola District. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Survey Design and Study Area Qualitative data collection methods were employed for obtaining data on local knowledge and adaptation to climate change impacts. Key Informants were held with: District Forestry Officer, the District Community Development Officer, District Livestock Production Officer and the District Veterinary Officer. The key informant interviews were aimed at getting insights into the smallholder livestock farmers’ knowledge base about climatic change and their capacity to respond to climate change variations and impacts. Four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held with local smallholder livestock free range farmers in order to assess the local brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals