Browsing by Author "Okumu,Charles Nelson"

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    Determinants of finger millet farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change in northern Uganda
    (Discover Agriculture, 2025-06-14) Atube, Francis; Ojara, Bosco Christopher; Labeja, Luis Richard; Okello, Daniel Micheal; Okumu,Charles Nelson
    Weather variability has had great negative impacts on crop production in rain-fed agricultural systems that dominate sub-Saharan Africa. Consequently, farmers usually undertake several climate change adaptation strategies to cope. This study assessed climate change adaptation strategies developed by finger millet farmers and the determinants to their choice of adaptation strategies in Kitgum District. This was achieved through a cross-sectional study involving 370 randomly selected smallholder farmers from Kitgum district. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, focus group discussions as well as key informant interviews. Collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis in the case of qualitative data and multivariate regression analysis in the case of quantitative data. Results showed that majority of finger millet farmers perceived weather variability in terms of decreased rainfall levels, prolonged dry spells, and unpredictable precipitations within the last twenty years. The visible effects include low yields of finger millet, poor seed germination, general millet failure causing low production, and increased food insecurity. The most common adaptation strategies were planting different types of crops to cater for failed crops, planting millet early to take care of the shortened length of the rainy season, and farmers adopting drought-resistant varieties of finger millet. Choice of these climate adaptation options depended on gender of household heads, age, size of land owned, education levels, belonging to a farmer group, and access extension service. The findings of this study imply that more effort is to improve the dissemination of weather-related information, provide training on climate-smart agriculture, and boost adaptation planning at the grassroots to empower millet farmers in the effort to increase millet production while practicing appropriate adaptation strategies to the effect of weather variability.
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    Experiences with Green Charcoal: A Gender Consideration of Rural and Urban Households in Gulu District
    (EAST AFRICAN NATURE & SCIENCE ORGANIZATION, 2024-11-03) Okello,Simon; Alidri,Agatha; Mbazalire, Ezekiel; Aoyo,Christine; Atube, Francis; Okello, Collins; Okumu,Charles Nelson
    The study focused on the use of green charcoal, a sustainable cooking fuel made from agricultural residues, in Gulu District, to highlight the experiences households have encountered, from a gender perspective. The study followed a cross-sectional design using qualitative approach which included the use of one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and ethnographic observations for data collection. The findings show that households in Gulu District use a combination of cooking fuels such as firewood, wood charcoal, green charcoal, or gas. Furthermore, the study established that there were cases where both men and women had shared experiences in cooking, for example, knowledge of the faster cooking rate, cleanliness, and much ash content involved while using green charcoal. However, to a larger extent, there were gendered differences in cooking activities: while women predominantly handle cooking, men often influence decisions about what and how to cook, revealing underlying gender and power dynamics within households. Key findings indicate that green charcoal is favored for its affordability relative to traditional black charcoal, prolonged burn time, and higher heat output, though it is also harder to light and produces more ash. It is particularly popular in rural Owoo Sub-County, where residents are more involved in its production compared to their urban counterparts in Gulu City. The study concluded that positive experiences with green charcoal have facilitated its adoption and recommends further actions to promote its use. These include increasing awareness of its environmental, health, and financial benefits, improving product quality, and involving women and girls as advocates to expand its utilization.