Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change Trends and Adaptation Strategies in Semiarid Highlands of Eastern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined smallholder farmers’ perception about climate change and variability compared with the observed metrological data and their adaptation strategies in response to the perceived impacts of climate change. The multistage sampling method was employed to select 358 rural farmers in Hawzen and Irob districts located in semiarid highlands of Eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Moreover, areal gridded surface monthly rainfall and temperature data between 1983 and 2015 were collected from National Meteorology Agency of Ethiopia. The results revealed that about 98.56 and 92 percent of farmers perceived a decrease in annual rainfall. In addition, 87 and 90 percent of farmers noticed that temperature was increased in Hawzen and Irob districts, respectively. Harmoniously, the modified Mann–Kendall trend test confirmed that annual rainfall was decreased by 32.38 mm and 121.33 mm during the period of analysis. Furthermore, mean annual temperature increased statistically significant (p<0.001) by about 0.40°C and 0.39°C per decade during the period of analysis cognate with the farmers’ perception. To reduce the perceived impacts of climate change, farmers adopted various farm-level adaptation strategies that vary significantly between the two groups. Soil and water conservation, planting trees, crop varieties, changing crop calendar, biological conservation, and irrigation were among the dominant adaptation strategies, respectively, in the study area. The results of this study provide baseline information for local governments, subsequent researchers, and policy-makers in terms of farmers’ perception of climate change and adaptation strategies.

Smallholder farmers’ perception of climate change and adoption of climate smart agriculture practices in Masaba South Sub-county, Kisii, Kenya

“…In the short rainfall season, in which they used to plant in July/August, they have shifted to planting as from September when the rainfall onset. These findings were consistent with those of Kahsay et al., (2019) , who found that 83.60 % and 86% of farmers in Hawzen and Irob, respectively, in Northern Ethiopia adopted a change of planting time as an adaptation strategy. The results are equally consistent with other studies that report adjustments in the planting calendar ( Amir et al., 2020 ; Antwi-Agyei and Nyantakyi-Frimpong, 2021 ; Talanow et al., 2021 ).…”

Perception of Fogera Cattle Farmers on Climate Change and Variability in Awi Zone, Ethiopia

“…They reported that the short rainy season is becoming irregular, unpredictable, and resulted in frequent Fogera cattle mortality due to a longer dry season, and a significant increase in livestock disease prevalence were happening in the area, as supported by the presented statistical analysis. Similarly, study conducted in the Tigray region of Ethiopia [38], showed that the majority of farmers perceived total rainfall decreased in the last fifteen years in their localities. Another study in northern Tanzania also indicated that farmers were experiencing a reduced amount of rainfall in their respective villages over the last 30 years [39] which is also consistent with this result.…”

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Water Conservation Technologies by Smallholder Farmer Households in Tanzania

“…Environmental knowledge has predictive power in terms of pro-environmental behavior [75]. A study by [76] found that when farmers perceive the rainfall to be getting less and unstably low they tend to adopt WCTs more. The study of [77] states that if rainfall instability is a continuing concern then farmers may adopt WCTs less.…”

“…Uncertainty in the future leads to a diversion from conservation actions due to a low perceived benefits [85,86]. In contrast a study by [76] in Ethiopia found a positive association between farmer perception of low and erratic rainfall and adoption of WCTs. In a study in Tanzania, [77] outlines that when farmers experience unreliable rainfall as a constant, they may become habituated and; therefore, not perceive the risk as urgent or immediate.…”

“…Positive [76] X 16 Perception of climate change An adopter's observation and recognition of a changing climate would indicate an awareness of the negative consequences of CC on poverty and food security. It affects the intention to behave and the attitude towards the behavior, in our case water conservation practices (theory of reasoned action); hence a perception of climate change and environment both would be positively related to adoption of WTCs.…”