An Assessment of the Effect of Climate Resilient Agricultural Practices towards Food Security in Oruchinga Camp, Isingiro District

Abstract

This study was about assessing the effect of climate resilient agricultural practices towards food security in Oruchinga camp-Isingiro District. Climate-resilient agricultural practices are the approaches that includes sustainability with existing natural resources through crop and livestock production systems to achieve long-term higher productivity and farm incomes under climate variability. The study established the different climate resilient agricultural practices used by smallholder farmers within the settlement camp, determine the effect of selected climate resilient agricultural practices on the food production systems of the local’s, establish the potential factors limiting the adoption of climate resilient agricultural practices and recommend available adaptation possibilities that can aid craft resilience to climate change and variability. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches for data collection. Information was gathered from a sample of 322 respondents and 10 key informants using self-administered questionnaire and interviews respectively. Data was analyzed using Microsoft EXCEL 2016 and SPSS Version 21.0 was used to run t-test to generate both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study identified the different climate resilient agricultural practices used by smallholder farmers within the settlement camp such as; agro forestry, use of improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, water-smart technologies, soil fertility management, use of compost and organic pesticides and small scale irrigation. The study also found out that climate resilient agricultural practices like agro forestry, water-smart technologies, use of improved crop varieties, soil fertility management and use of compost and organic pesticides had a statistically significant effect on food production systems in the camp. The study further found out that capacity building through training and skills development, agroforestry promotion, promotion of labour saving technologies, promotion of climate resistant crop and animal varieties, increasing water supply, boosting community education and awareness programs, integrated pest and disease control as well as widening extension coverage could be adaptation possibilities that could aid craft resilience to climate change and variability in the area. In conclusion, the study confirmed that there are different climate resilient agricultural practices being used by farmers in the area and these practices have significantly supported food production systems. The small sized land was one of the main reasons why farmers fail to use recommended CRA practices, therefore increasing on production per unit area through opening new arable land areas would mean that farmers have enough spaces to try new technologies/practices.