Determinants of smallholder farmers’ adaptation options to climate change in a coffee-based farming system of Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The direct and indirect impacts of climate change may jeopardize livelihoods of millions of poor coffee-growing farmers, unless the sector manages to deploy adequate adaptation measures. This study provides valuable insight into smallholder coffee farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change impacts and factors determining their choices based on a survey of 240 smallholder farmers in Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia. The assessment indicates that the most common adaptation measures used by the producers include adjustment of planting date, change of the crop type and variety, tree plantation, and mixed farming. Access to weather forecasts and formal extension services, level of education, age of the household head, farm size and income from coffee and agro-ecological setting affect the coffee growers’ decision to adapt to climate change. Enhancing smallholder coffee farmers’ adaptation to climate change requires further efforts from the government to improve farmers’ access to accurate and timely agro-meteorological forecasts, capacity building and technical support for income diversification through improved provision of agricultural extension services.