89
livestock production for food and income security, coping strategies such as social
grants, government relief, and seasonal employment that are critical for improvement are viewed as fallback alternatives in case their strategies failed. This could be
a result of the mechanism used to provide services, which end up being skewed to
the benefit of a few.
The ability of respondents to build resilience to climate change is further constrained by a combination of both physiological and physical factors. These include
helplessness, stresses, and strains defined as elements of poverty, HIV/AIDS, governance, and the inability of service providers to effectively implement programs
and policies designed to enhance the lives of men and women. These factors further
affect adaptation as they hinder men and women’s ability to recover from the
impacts of climatic events. Gender-differentiated impacts of climate variability
were manifested in the unequal distribution of roles and responsibilities of men and
women in rice production systems in the zone, through socially constructed roles
and responsibilities. Women seemed to bear the heavier burdens from climate variability effects, although they were not able to clearly appraise these effects in relation to the effects on men. Women were found to have extra workloads when faced
with climatic stressors as they made efforts to cope by working longer hours than
men to be able to cater for the children and the other household members who
depend on them, which affected them both physically and emotionally. Married
women also had the additional restriction of having to account to their husbands for
their movements, even if it was in the cause of trying to cater for the family, in the
face of climate change variability.
The effects on men were more psychological than physical. When climate change
led to unemployment, men coped very poorly. The pressure of unemployment often
resulted in alcohol, drug abuse, and violence. It was also evident that climate change
impacted differently on rural men and women. Changes in rainfall patterns, for
instance, instantly interrupted the working routine of rural men and women, while
those in urban areas felt the impact much later.
Results from this study confirm that women play an important role in supporting
households and communities to cope and adapt to climate variability to ensure food
security. They have the opportunity to diversify their livelihoods to cope better with
climate variability, but this would not be possible if women’s mobility is restricted.
Lessons can therefore be drawn from their knowledge on how women can be better
assisted to adapt to climate change. With enough commitment and further support,
they are in position to take advantage of new opportunities to address issues of gender and climate change.
Rice production in Uganda has high potential to improve farmers’ livelihoods
and contribute to economic growth and development. Promoting food security
through rice production and addressing climate change issues is very critical and
requires a holistic approach while addressing issues relating to gender inequality
and climate-related impacts in rice-growing communities. There is a need to understand the historical and social disadvantages of both men and women and the multiple concerns emerging from historical and social disadvantages of both men and
women that affect their ability to cope with current climate variability. In addition,
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…
livestock production for food and income security, coping strategies such as social
grants, government relief, and seasonal employment that are critical for improvement are viewed as fallback alternatives in case their strategies failed. This could be
a result of the mechanism used to provide services, which end up being skewed to
the benefit of a few.
The ability of respondents to build resilience to climate change is further constrained by a combination of both physiological and physical factors. These include
helplessness, stresses, and strains defined as elements of poverty, HIV/AIDS, governance, and the inability of service providers to effectively implement programs
and policies designed to enhance the lives of men and women. These factors further
affect adaptation as they hinder men and women’s ability to recover from the
impacts of climatic events. Gender-differentiated impacts of climate variability
were manifested in the unequal distribution of roles and responsibilities of men and
women in rice production systems in the zone, through socially constructed roles
and responsibilities. Women seemed to bear the heavier burdens from climate variability effects, although they were not able to clearly appraise these effects in relation to the effects on men. Women were found to have extra workloads when faced
with climatic stressors as they made efforts to cope by working longer hours than
men to be able to cater for the children and the other household members who
depend on them, which affected them both physically and emotionally. Married
women also had the additional restriction of having to account to their husbands for
their movements, even if it was in the cause of trying to cater for the family, in the
face of climate change variability.
The effects on men were more psychological than physical. When climate change
led to unemployment, men coped very poorly. The pressure of unemployment often
resulted in alcohol, drug abuse, and violence. It was also evident that climate change
impacted differently on rural men and women. Changes in rainfall patterns, for
instance, instantly interrupted the working routine of rural men and women, while
those in urban areas felt the impact much later.
Results from this study confirm that women play an important role in supporting
households and communities to cope and adapt to climate variability to ensure food
security. They have the opportunity to diversify their livelihoods to cope better with
climate variability, but this would not be possible if women’s mobility is restricted.
Lessons can therefore be drawn from their knowledge on how women can be better
assisted to adapt to climate change. With enough commitment and further support,
they are in position to take advantage of new opportunities to address issues of gender and climate change.
Rice production in Uganda has high potential to improve farmers’ livelihoods
and contribute to economic growth and development. Promoting food security
through rice production and addressing climate change issues is very critical and
requires a holistic approach while addressing issues relating to gender inequality
and climate-related impacts in rice-growing communities. There is a need to understand the historical and social disadvantages of both men and women and the multiple concerns emerging from historical and social disadvantages of both men and
women that affect their ability to cope with current climate variability. In addition,
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…