67
female-headed and 39 male-headed households, were selected. In addition, key
informants such as village chiefs, women councilors, elders, local council leaders,
agricultural officers, and researchers were also identified for the study.
2.5 Data Collection Methods and Tools
The data collection methods used included household interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), observations, and review of secondary data from similar studies conducted. A total of 60 household interviews, 15
focus group discussions (i.e., 7 within the upland and 8 within the lowland rice
production system), and 21 key informant interviews were conducted. For quantitative data collection, household interviews were conducted using a semi-structured
questionnaire with several open-ended questions to capture respondents’ insights
and perceptions. The questionnaire was reviewed and tailored to the Ugandan perspective since it was used in Asia to collect similar information. The questionnaire
was designed in such a way that it contained different sections for both male and
female rice growers, in order to make comparisons of their submissions. The questionnaire also sought gender-disaggregated information on access to land, land size,
income sources, access to labor for rice production, access to resources, and decision- making power. In addition, information on extreme weather events for a
10-year period, and how the events affected rice and livestock production, was
solicited. A considerable amount of time was spent revising, editing, and preparing
the questionnaire with the help of several district and research officers in the zone.
To gather more qualitative data, 21 key informants and 15 focused group discussions were conducted. The FGDs were done with the youth, as well as male and
female respondents. However, male groups were separated from female groups to
avoid dominance of one group over the other and to allow voices from each group to
be independently captured. Similar topics were discussed in both male and female
groups with female FGDs held in afternoons, to give them time to attend to domestic
duties. The issues shared were related to food security in the community, challenges,
and coping mechanisms used to avert threats like crop diseases, land pressure, soil
infertility, and lack of markets. Seasonal calendars were also used to elicit information
on crop and livestock production activities for different seasons and climate variations. In addition, the gender roles in rice production as well as other prominent livelihood activities were also captured. Using the problem tree, respondents were asked to
identify the different climate risk factors, their root causes, and adaptation strategies.
2.6 Data Analysis
The study employed both qualitative and quantitative technique of data analysis.
Content analysis was used for qualitative data to analyze texts from the transcribed
interviews. This involved searching for underlying themes contained in the transcribed
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…
female-headed and 39 male-headed households, were selected. In addition, key
informants such as village chiefs, women councilors, elders, local council leaders,
agricultural officers, and researchers were also identified for the study.
2.5 Data Collection Methods and Tools
The data collection methods used included household interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), observations, and review of secondary data from similar studies conducted. A total of 60 household interviews, 15
focus group discussions (i.e., 7 within the upland and 8 within the lowland rice
production system), and 21 key informant interviews were conducted. For quantitative data collection, household interviews were conducted using a semi-structured
questionnaire with several open-ended questions to capture respondents’ insights
and perceptions. The questionnaire was reviewed and tailored to the Ugandan perspective since it was used in Asia to collect similar information. The questionnaire
was designed in such a way that it contained different sections for both male and
female rice growers, in order to make comparisons of their submissions. The questionnaire also sought gender-disaggregated information on access to land, land size,
income sources, access to labor for rice production, access to resources, and decision- making power. In addition, information on extreme weather events for a
10-year period, and how the events affected rice and livestock production, was
solicited. A considerable amount of time was spent revising, editing, and preparing
the questionnaire with the help of several district and research officers in the zone.
To gather more qualitative data, 21 key informants and 15 focused group discussions were conducted. The FGDs were done with the youth, as well as male and
female respondents. However, male groups were separated from female groups to
avoid dominance of one group over the other and to allow voices from each group to
be independently captured. Similar topics were discussed in both male and female
groups with female FGDs held in afternoons, to give them time to attend to domestic
duties. The issues shared were related to food security in the community, challenges,
and coping mechanisms used to avert threats like crop diseases, land pressure, soil
infertility, and lack of markets. Seasonal calendars were also used to elicit information
on crop and livestock production activities for different seasons and climate variations. In addition, the gender roles in rice production as well as other prominent livelihood activities were also captured. Using the problem tree, respondents were asked to
identify the different climate risk factors, their root causes, and adaptation strategies.
2.6 Data Analysis
The study employed both qualitative and quantitative technique of data analysis.
Content analysis was used for qualitative data to analyze texts from the transcribed
interviews. This involved searching for underlying themes contained in the transcribed
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…