Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation Strategies to Cimate Change and Variability in Arsi Negele District, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia’s agriculture is heavily dependent on rain-fed with low adaptive capacity entail a high vulnerability to adverse impacts of climate change. There has been more erratic rainfall, an increase in temperature, droughts, floods, food insecurity and dramatically decreased of water volumes are a major challenge in the area. The objective of this study was to assess farmers’ perception and adaptation strategies to climate change in Arsi Negele district. Both Primary data and secondary data were used. Primary data were collected from household’s interviews through structured questionnaire; key informants interview, focus group discussion and field observation from three agro-ecological zones. The data were collected from 139 households who were selected through multi-stage sampling techniques. Secondary data were collected from published and unpublished sources. Descriptive statistics, frequency, chi square and percentages were used to assess farmers’ perceptions, impacts of climate change, and their adaptation strategies. The Results showed that almost all respondents were perceived that over the past 30 years they have perceived increase in temperature, decrease in precipitation, and irregular rainfall, and there was no divergence between the twin perceptions of farmers and climatic data records. The most common adaptation options include different or new crop varieties, crop diversification, changing planting dates, implementing soil and water conservation practices, adjustment to crop and livestock management, drought tolerant crops, tree planting activities and migration.

Therefore it is advisable that Future policy making processes should pay due attention to incorporate action plans that strengthen the already existing autonomous adaptation strategies used by these communities.

Keywords/phrases: - Farmers’ perception, Adaptation, Strategies, Climate change