| dc.description.abstract | Choosing the right planting date is crucial in adapting to climate variability. This study
employs the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model to quantify the
impact of timely maize planting in mitigating climate risks for smallholder refugee maize
farmers in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement (KRS), western Uganda. The model simulates
maize yield responses to variations in planting windows within the optimal growing
season. Three planting windows were determined for model simulation, namely; early
planting window (EPW), timely planting window (TPW), and late planting window
(LPW). Results indicated that maize planted in the TPW, guided by climate information
services (CIS), generated the highest yield potential during both the MAM and SOND
seasons, an average of 3,299.7 and 3,535.7 kg/ha respectively. For maize planted during
the MAM’s TPW, there was a 100% probability of obtaining at least 1,500 kg/ha yield.
Additionally, there was a 54.8% chance of obtaining a maximum yield when maize is
planted during the TPW of any season as compared to EPW (12.9%) and LPW (32.3%).
For both seasons, planting maize during the TPW resulted in low failure rates (29.0% for
SOND and 41.9% for MAM) and lower yield variability (23.2% for MAM and 39.9% for
SOND) than other planting windows. The findings reveal that sowing maize within the
TPW was associated with fewer climate risks, with the potential to significantly boost food
security, enhance livelihoods, and contribute to broader development goals within the
refugee farming communities. The study highlights the imperativeness of agro-advisory
services and access to timely and accurate CIS to support refugee farmers in making
informed sowing decisions. The findings underscore the vital role of timely planting in
boosting agricultural resilience and contributing to the realization of Uganda’s Vision
2040, AU’s Agenda 2063, and the UN Agenda 2030. | en_US |
