217
divorced and widowed, respectively. Religion-wise, 71% of the respondents were
Christians, and the rest were either Muslims or belonged to other religions.
4.2 Awareness of Weather Variability: Impacts and Causes
The majority (99%) of the farmers indicated that they were aware and had limited
understanding of the meaning of the terms climate change and weather variability.
In their responses, respondents indicated that climate change and weather variability are associated with and characterised by extreme events such as increasing frequency and intensity of droughts (25.8%), floods (22.7%) and erratic and shorter
periods of rainfall (22.7%) as shown in Fig. 1. These were corroborated through the
focus group discussions and interviews with key informants who also mentioned
that weather variability is also associated with incidences of higher than average
temperatures and strong dusty winds.
Several factors can contribute to climate change and weather variability.
Interestingly, majority of the respondents (88%) indicated that they as individuals
have in one way or another contributed to climate change and weather variability.
The rest (12%) of the respondents indicated that they were neither sure of the actual
meaning of climate change and weather variability nor did they know if their actions
contribute to weather variability or climate change. Factors that contribute to climate change as mentioned by respondents include overgrazing (38%), poor manure
disposal and management (34%) and deforestation (16%). These factors were also
mentioned during focus group discussions and during interviews with key informants such as extension workers. Although extension workers would be expected to
have technical know-how as resource persons for smallholder farmers, some extension workers indicated that they are not very conversant with the climate change and
weather variability phenomena.
25.8
22.7
22.7
18.6
10.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
Drought
Floods
Erratic rainfall
High
tempereture
Strong winds
Pecentage
Indicators
Fig. 1 The indicators of climate change and weather variability as perceived by respondents
Climate Change and Weather Variability Effects on Cattle Production: Perception…
divorced and widowed, respectively. Religion-wise, 71% of the respondents were
Christians, and the rest were either Muslims or belonged to other religions.
4.2 Awareness of Weather Variability: Impacts and Causes
The majority (99%) of the farmers indicated that they were aware and had limited
understanding of the meaning of the terms climate change and weather variability.
In their responses, respondents indicated that climate change and weather variability are associated with and characterised by extreme events such as increasing frequency and intensity of droughts (25.8%), floods (22.7%) and erratic and shorter
periods of rainfall (22.7%) as shown in Fig. 1. These were corroborated through the
focus group discussions and interviews with key informants who also mentioned
that weather variability is also associated with incidences of higher than average
temperatures and strong dusty winds.
Several factors can contribute to climate change and weather variability.
Interestingly, majority of the respondents (88%) indicated that they as individuals
have in one way or another contributed to climate change and weather variability.
The rest (12%) of the respondents indicated that they were neither sure of the actual
meaning of climate change and weather variability nor did they know if their actions
contribute to weather variability or climate change. Factors that contribute to climate change as mentioned by respondents include overgrazing (38%), poor manure
disposal and management (34%) and deforestation (16%). These factors were also
mentioned during focus group discussions and during interviews with key informants such as extension workers. Although extension workers would be expected to
have technical know-how as resource persons for smallholder farmers, some extension workers indicated that they are not very conversant with the climate change and
weather variability phenomena.
25.8
22.7
22.7
18.6
10.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
Drought
Floods
Erratic rainfall
High
tempereture
Strong winds
Pecentage
Indicators
Fig. 1 The indicators of climate change and weather variability as perceived by respondents
Climate Change and Weather Variability Effects on Cattle Production: Perception…