Climate Change Technologies for Improved Livelihoods of Smallholder Crop-Livestock Farmers in Eastern and Central Africa

The productivity of smallholder crop-livestock production systems in Eastern and Central Africa is threatened by adverse effects of climate change; with severe consequences on livestock feeds, water and household livelihoods. A project was implemented in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi during 2009-2011, to promote utilisation of drought tolerant forages, rain water harvesting, and use of soil fertility enhancements as coping mechanisms against climate change shocks, especially in the dairy-vegetable production systems. Drought tolerant forages that were evaluated and promoted included Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato (Brachiaria) and Pennisetum purpureum intercropped with forage legumes. Livestock manures from the farms were utilised to replenish soil fertility for vegetable production. Rain water was harvested for domestic and livestock uses and to drip irrigate vegetable (cabbage) grown on plots amended with either goat, cattle or poultry manure. The project involved 280 smallholder dairy-vegetable production system farms, most of which had women as key players. The trials were laid out in a randomised complete block design, with 3 replications. This paper presents data for one site, namely Masaka in Uganda. From the study, introducing 0.5 ha of a mixture of Brachiaria and Clitoria ternatea on farms previously dependent on 0.5 ha of P. purpureum and Centrosema pubecens mixture, provided year round feed supply to dairy cattle. Drought tolerant forages and water harvesting technologies increased fodder availability (76%), water offered to animals (46.3%), milk yield (78.7%) and cash incomes (52.4%). Application of goat, cattle and poultry manure with drip irrigation significantly (P<0.05) increased cabbage yield by 9%, 49% and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, integrated management of climate change adaptation technologies in dairy-vegetable production systems improved food security and income. Relevant policies should be bolstered to enhance adoption of climate change coping technologies, as a strategy for improving livelihoods.