Determinants of Rural Women’s Adaptation Measures to Climate Change in Yeki Woreda, Sheka Zone of South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge that burdens all of humanity.  However, the world’s poor, the majority of whom are women, are encumbered disproportionately. Adaptation is, therefore, considered as an important response, especially for those groups who are most exposed to and affected by its adverse effect. Hence, this study assessed the determinants of women’s choices of adaptation strategies to climate change in Yeki Woreda, Sheka Zone of South Western Ethiopia using a multinomial logit model. A three-stage sampling procedure was followed in selecting 150 women farmers from three kebeles. The result revealed that productive labor force, farm size, farming experience, wealth status, access to climate information, credit service usage and extension visit were found to influence women’s choice of adaptation strategies positively and significantly (P ≤ 10%). Therefore, development interventions, policies and supportive services should be designed at a different level to ensure effective access to climate information and affordable credit schemes for women households to enable them to plan and adapt in the face of the changing climate.

Keywords: Adaptation strategy, Climate change, MNL, Women, Yeki

DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/72-01

Publication date:May 31^st 2021