Farmers\u2019 perception of climate change and adaptation strategies in the Dabus watershed, North-West Ethiopia

Paulos Asrat,Belay Simane

doi:10.1186/s13717-018-0118-8

Abstract

IntroductionThis study is aimed at analyzing farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change in the Dabus watershed. It is based on analysis of data collected from 734 randomly selected farm household heads substantiated with Focus Group Discussions and field observations.MethodsThe study employed descriptive methods to assess farmers’ perception of climate change, local indicators of climate change and types of adaptation measures exercised to cope up with the risk of the change in climate. The study also employed the Heckman sample selection model to analyze the two-step process of adaptation to climate change which initially requires farmers’ perception that climate is changing prior to responding to the changes through adaptation measures.ResultsBased on the model result educational attainment, the age of the head of the household, the number of crop failures in the past, changes in temperature and precipitation significantly influenced farmers’ perception of climate change in wet lowland parts of the study area. In dry lowland condition, farming experience, climate information, duration of food shortage, and the number of crop failures experienced determined farmers’ perception of climate change. Farmers’ adaptation decision in both the wet and dry lowland conditions is influenced by household size, the gender of household head, cultivated land size, education, farm experience, non-farm income, income from livestock, climate information, extension advice, farm-home distance and number of parcels. However, the direction of influence and significance level of most of the explanatory variables vary between the two parts of the study area.ConclusionsIn line with the results, any intervention that promotes the use of adaptation measures to climate change may account for location-specific factors that determine farmers' perception of climate change and adaptive responses thereof.

Highlights

This study is aimed at analyzing farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change in the Dabus watershed
Farmers’ adaptive responses In the wet lowland condition, 62% of the respondents indicated that they know climate change adaptation measure and have implemented at least one in the past
Adaptation to climate change is a two-step process which requires that farmers first perceive climate change and respond to the changes in the second step

Summary

Introduction

This study is aimed at analyzing farmers’ perception and adaptation to climate change in the Dabus watershed. Climate variability and change poses a huge threat to smallholder farmers in the Dabus watershed (the study area) due to overwhelming reliance on climatesensitive small-scale agriculture, which could be worsened by prevailing social and economic challenges in the watershed (Asrat and Simane 2017d). Agricultural production is apparently affected by climate-related shock in the area, which is usually manifested by the occurrence of pest and insect infestations as well as land degradation problems. In this regard, adaptation appears to be an efficient and friendly way for farmers to reduce these negative impacts of climate change (Füssel and Klein 2006). In order to implement appropriate interventions, there is a need to understand location-specific opportunities, challenges, and the key drivers behind adaptation

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Conclusion