Climate risk management for sustainable crop production in Uganda: Rakai and Kapchorwa districts

Uganda has been regarded as a development success story due to its increasing economic growth and declining poverty. Nevertheless, the country’s economic dependence on agriculture makes it very sensitive to climate variability and change. Temperatures in Uganda have been steadily increasing and climate hazards such as floods and droughts have become more frequent and intense, a trend expected to continue. Ugandan smallholder farmers already know and apply various global best practices to reduce climate risks, but much remains to be done to improve these local responses. This report argues that adopting, for example, small-scale irrigation, conservation agriculture measures and intercropping techniques could contribute to offsetting the negative impacts of climate change. Moreover, combining local and scientific knowledge for improved local weather forecasts, early warning systems and the optimum use of agroforestry could also provide innovative and practical solutions.