Rural household perception and adaptation strategies to climate change and variability: in the case of Libo-kemkem Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Studying Libo-kemkem Woreda households’ perceptions and responses to climate change and variability was the primary focus of this study. A cross-sectional and primary data collection method was used in this study to address its main objective. Based on stratified and straightforward random selection methods, 216 rural households were selected for the study. Through the household survey, data was collected on perceptions of climate change, variability, and adaptation methods. To analyze the collected data, beta regression models, F-tests, and chi-squared tests were employed. The results showed that only 3.2% of respondents did not recognize the occurrence of climate change or variability, which means that 96.8% of respondents are aware of the phenomenon. According to the sample of respondents, temperatures grew by 91.9% and rainfall decreased by 88.8%. A total of 96.2% of the respondents noted that rainfall distribution was uneven in the study area. A survey revealed that almost 96.7% of respondents said climate change negatively impacts agriculture, animal output, water quality, and epidemic disease outbreaks. Additionally, the model showed that, rather than respondents’ ages, factors like educational attainment, income earned on and off the farm, farm size, access to extension services, and weather information impacted climate change adaptation measures statistically significantly and favorably. Policymakers, woreda agricultural offices, and development staff need to take statistically significant factors into account when developing and implementing adaptation plans for climate change and variability.