Perceived Climate Change and Determinants of Adaptation Responses by Smallholder Farmers in Central Ethiopia

Girma Geleta Megersa, Moti Jaleta, Kindie Tesfaye, Mezegebu Getnet, Tamado Tana and Berhane Lakew
Additional contact information
Girma Geleta Megersa: Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Salale University, Fiche P.O. Box 245, Ethiopia
Moti Jaleta: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia
Kindie Tesfaye: International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia
Mezegebu Getnet: Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) Ethiopia, Bole Sub-City, Wereda 9, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 30912, Ethiopia
Tamado Tana: Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Luyengo P.O. Box M205, Eswatini
Berhane Lakew: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Center, Holeta P.O. Box 2003, Ethiopia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: Climate change is a global phenomenon but disproportionately affects smallholder farmers, prompting them to use various coping and adaptation strategies to counter the problem. This study aimed to examine the trends of climate parameters, assess farmers’ perception of climate change, and identify the strategies of adaptation measures in central Ethiopia. Climate data were obtained from the National Meteorological Agency. Survey data were collected from 120 randomly selected households in 2017 and complemented with focus group discussions. The Mann–Kendall approach was used to detect climate trends, while a rainfall anomaly was calculated using the rainfall anomaly index. Multinomial logit model was used to examine determinants of farmers’ adaptation to the perceived change. In most of the cases, farmers’ perceptions were in accordance with climate trend analyses. Farmers used crop diversification, adjustments of planting dates, destocking of livestock, seasonal migration, crop rotation, and climate information services to adapt to climate-related shocks. Empirical results showed that the age and education of the household heads, family size, access to extension services, and farm and nonfarm incomes had a significant association with the adaptation practices farmers took. The existence of strong correlations between the demographic, socio-institutional variables, and the choice of adaptation strategies suggests the need to strengthen local institutions to enhance the adaptation of smallholder farmers to climate change.

Keywords: adaptation options; central Ethiopia; climate change; determinants of adaptation; farmers’ perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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