The influence of indigenous knowledge on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation by Local Communities in Kidongole Sub-County, Bukedea District, Uganda.
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Date
2014-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of engineering and applied sciences.
Abstract
Long before the initiation of modern scientific methods for weather forecasting and climate
prediction, most of the local people used traditional ways and indicators of rainfall
forecasting/prediction in order to develop local adaptation and mitigation strategies. The main
objective of the study was to assess the influence of indigenous knowledge on climate change
adaptation in climate change adaptation and mitigation by local communities in Kidongole sub
county, Bukedea district by identifying the climate change indicators as a basis for adaptation in
the community, finding out how the indigenous knowledge practices promote the adaptation to
climate change and exploring the possible climate change adaptation and mitigation measures for
the local community. The study was descriptive in nature and a total of 65 respondents were
chosen as the sample size comprised of farmers that engage in crop or animal farming and/or
both, a few agricultural officers, local leaders and the environmental officers. The sampling
techniques that were used were simple random sampling and purposive sampling. Data was
collected using questionnaires, observation and document review. The data was mainly analyzed
using frequencies distribution tables to acquire frequencies and percentages and the data was also
presented in form of pie-charts and frequency distribution tables. The study found out and
concluded that; most of the respondents could explain the meaning of climate change and the
main indicator of climate change in Kidongole sub-county is unreliable rainfall. The majority of
respondents had observed the climate change indicators for a period of 30-40 years mostly the
adults/elderly. In addition, deforestation was the major cause of climate change while the least
was bush burning. Crop production practices are the greatest activities/area in which 1K practices
are involved in climate change adaptation. Conserving indigenous tree species is the major 1K
practice used in the community for climate change mitigation. The majority of the respondents
do not need any modern climate change adaptation and mitigation measures while the least
respondents acknowledged the need for the modern measures to climate change adaptation and
mitigation. The major modern measure for climate change adaptation and mitigation introduced
and practiced in the community is the use of high yielding crop and animal varieties and the least
was research. The study recommended increased afforestation and re-afforestation, sensitization,
more research should be conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and
Fisheries, also NEMA.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the School of Engineering and
Applied Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Award of Bachelors of Science Degree
in Environmental Management of
Kampala International
University.
Keywords
Climate Change, Indigenous, Adaptation and Mitigation, Local Communities, Bukedea District