Assessing the effects of climate variability on household food security in Moroto District

Abstract

Climate variability has exacerbated the food insecurity situation through variations in rainfall patterns and increased temperatures that reduce water for production affecting crop yields and animal productivity. These major livelihoods of communities in Karamoja region rely on favourable climatic conditions which reliance is derailed by climate variability. This study thought to investigate the effects of climate variability on food security in Moroto District. The specific objectives of the study were; to assess the trends of climate variability from 1990 – 2020, to examine the effects of climate variability on household food security, and to analyse the effectiveness of the existing adaptation strategies. Trend analysis, multiple logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression are some of the methods that were used in this study. Results show that there is a general increment in annual mean temperature and a general reduction in total amount of rainfall received annually over the study period in the region. In terms of predictors of climate variability affecting on food availability, pests and diseases and crop failure were identified as significant predictors. Food accessibility was mainly affected by reduced household incomes while difficulty in food preservation and storage were identified as significant predictors affecting household food utilization. Results on effectiveness of adaptation strategies show that fertilizer use and planting fast maturing crops were the most effective options to attaining food availability while food aid and proper food storage were the most significant strategies to attaining food accessibility and food utilization respectively. The study recommends that households should adapt strategies such as irrigation and agroforestry, organic fertilizers, planting fast maturing crop varieties and proper food storage to enhance household food security and minimise the effects of climate variability.