Smallholder farmers’ adaptation to climate change and determinants of their adaptation decisions in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

Background:The agricultural sector remains the main source of livelihoods for rural communities in Ethiopia, but faces the challenge of changing climate. This study investigated how smallholder farmers perceive climate change, what adaptation strategies they practice, and factors that influence their adaptation decisions. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study, and a multinomial logit model was employed to identify the factors that shape smallholder farmers' adaptation strategies. Results:The results show that 90% of farmers have already perceived climate variability, and 85% made attempts to adapt using practices like crop diversification, planting date adjustment, soil and water conservation and management, increasing the intensity of input use, integrating crop with livestock, and tree planting. The econometric model indicated that education, family size, gender, age, livestock ownership, farming experience, frequency of contact with extension agents, farm size, access to market, access to climate information and income were the key factors determining farmers' choice of adaptation practice. Conclusion:In the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, climate change is a pressing problem, which is beyond the capacity of smallholders to respond to autonomously. Farmers' capacity to choose effective adaptation options is influenced by household demography, as well as positively by farm size, income, access to markets, access to climate information and extension, and livestock production. This implies the need to support the indigenous adaptation strategies of the smallholder farmers with a wide range of institutional, policy, and technology support; some of it targeted on smaller, poorer or female-headed households. Moreover, creating opportunities for non-farm income sources is important as this helps farmers to engage in those activities that are less sensitive to climate change. Furthermore, providing climate change information, extension services, and creating access to markets are crucial.

Sustainability of Improved Crop Varieties and Agricultural Practices: A Case Study in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

“…Maize. Although maize is the major crop and the mainstay of farmers in the villages, its production is highly constrained by soil moisture stress, intra-and inter-seasonal rainfall variability and dry spells [42], and poor soil nutrients [23]. In response to the unfavorable climatic conditions, the use of early-maturing maize is an interesting option for farmers.…”

Impacts of future climate and agricultural land‐use changes on regional agricultural water use in a large irrigation district of northwest China

“…Nearly 90% of farmers can perceive climate change, and approximately 85% try to manage this by adjusting cropping patterns and planting dates, by irrigation management, and by increasing the agricultural inputs (Belay, Recha, Woldeamanuel, & Morton, ). Belay et al () indicated that the most important practice farmers used to reduce the impacts of climate change especially in the lowland was to adjust crop planting dates and crop varieties. The cropping pattern in the HID has also changed during the past decades.…”

Perceptions and practices of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies among farmers in the Konta Special District, Ethiopia

“…Several studies have been done on factors affecting farmers' adaptations to climate change in the various areas of Ethiopia (BERHANU & BEYENE, 2015;DERESSA ET AL., 2010;TESFAY, 2014;ERENA & GEMECHU, 2016;BELAY ET AL., 2017;AMARE & SIMANE, 2018;TESSEMA ET AL., 2013;TAZEZE ET AL., 2012). Although various climate change response strategies are rigorously researched, the extent of the practice of each adaptation and mitigation strategy adapted from the CRGE initiatives in rural areas and farmers' perception towards these strategies are not well addressed.…”