Jornal de Ciências da Terra e Mudanças Climáticas

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Smallholder Farmers? Adaptation to Climate Change and Determinants of their Adaptation Decisions in Shashemene District, South Eastern Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Kedir Erbo, Abdisa Rabo

Current climate variability is already imposing significant challenges to Ethiopia by preventing the struggle to reduce poverty and sustainable efforts. The study was conducted in Shashemene districts south eastern rift valley of Ethiopia to recognize the effects of climate change on smallholder farmer and their adaptation strategies. The study engaged simple random sampling method and follows multistage sampling techniques to select the sampled household. The study used both qualitative and quantitative data collected from 144 house-hold through household surveys. Also, FGD (Focused Group Discussion) and KIs (Key Informants) were applied to triangulate and substantiate the finding from household survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic model were employed to test a degree of significance between the farmer household to the effects of climate change. The results show that 87% of farmers have already perceived climate variability and 78% made attempts to adapt using practices like crop diversification, planting date adjustment, soil and water conservation practice, increasing the concentration of agricultural input use, agro-pastoral system and silvicultural practice. The result indicated that the significant increment of temperature and seasonal rainfall variability have caused effects on their agricultural practices of peoples wellbeing. Moreover, farmers’ capacity to select real adaptation options was influenced by household demography, as well as definitely by farm size, income generation and access to markets, access to climate information and extension. This indicates that we need to advocate the indigenous adaptation strategies of the smallholder farmers with a wide range of institutional, policy and technology support specifically on; smaller, poorer or female-headed households. Furthermore, creating opportunities for non-farm income sources is essential which helps farmers to engage in those activities. Finally, providing climate change information, extension services and creating access to markets are crucial.