Purpose Smallholder farmers have always been profoundly the first to be impacted by climate change, and therefore, farmers understanding of climate change and accessibility to alternative adaptation strategies are crucial for reducing the effect of climate change. The purpose of this study is to assess the perception of farmers to climate change, adaptation strategies and determinants of adaptation choice in central Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach The study used data from randomly selected 240 farm households. Descriptive statistics were used to describe farmers’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies. Also, a multivariate probit model was used to identify the major factors affecting farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change in central Ethiopia. Findings Smallholder farmers perceive climate change in the past two decades in response; the majority (91.47%) of farmers used adaptation options. Improved crop varieties and input intensity, crop diversification, planting date adjustment, soil and water conservation activities and changing of the crop type were used as adaptation options in the study area. A few of these strategies were significantly confirmed a complementary and supplementary relationship. The study identified sex, family size, agroecology, climate information, crop-fail history and formal extension service as significant determinants for farmers’ adaptation choices as these variables significantly affected more than two farmers’ adaptation strategies simultaneously. Research limitations/implications Farmers’ choice of adaptation was highly constrained by institutional factors and all these identified factors can be possibly addressed through a better institutional service provision system. It is, therefore, recommended that local administrators should explore the institutional service provision system for a better farm-level adaptation while considering demographic characteristics as well. Originality/value This study identified factors affecting farmers’ several adaptation strategies at a time and provides information for the policymaker to make cost-effective interventions for better farm-level adaptation practices.
Crop protection is an essential component of fruit and vegetable production in Ethiopia. Farmers utilize various protection strategies and methods to minimize the level of damage by pests, but among protection strategies pesticide application is the predominant method. There is high dependency of farmers on pesticide control of pests in fruits and vegetable production. Pesticide application encourages farmers to rely more on pesticides than on other pest control methods because of quick results obtained. This will result in accumulation of pesticide residues on the crops. Pesticide residue refers to pesticides that may remain on or in food after they are applied to food crops. Hence pesticide residue includes the pesticide that is remained in the sprayed produce such as fruits and vegetables and bioaccumulation in animals and products such as fish, meat, eggs and dairy. Pesticides used on fruits and vegetables leave residues on the exposed crops which expose human beings to adverse health effects. The continuous use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables as practiced by farmer's poses a health risk to consumers and may lead to higher pesticide residues. Organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides which are the most hazardous and banned chemical groups are still in use in Ethiopia. Good pesticide monitoring and program to evaluate consumer risk for the Ethiopian people is mandatory.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.