The agricultural sector is a fundamental part of the Ugandan economy, employing about 66 percent of the working population in 2009/10 and contributing about 22 percent to total GDP in the year 2012 (UBOS, 2013). Therefore, improving understanding of the nature and potential impacts of climate change on the sector is an essential prerequisite to the assessment and prioritization of adaptation actions.
Climate change can potentially impact agricultural production in a number of ways. In the case of crops this maybe by changing: (i) the area suitable for agriculture, (ii) the length of the growing season, (iii) yield potential, (iv) the frequency and severity of extreme events (in particular droughts and floods) and (v) the incidence of plant diseases. In the case of livestock climate change may affect production through: (i) impacts on the quantity and quality of feed, (ii) increasing heat stress, (iii) changes to and spread of livestock diseases and (iv) changes in water availability.
This report has assessed the potential economic impacts of climate change and finds that, in the absence of additional measures to adapt to climate change, there will be consequences in three areas: on food crops and livestock, on export crops, and on both of these sectors from extreme events.