Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change and Determinants of their Adaptation Choices in Hobicha, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Different evidences indicate that climate of the earth was changed and continuously changing. Thus, this study investigates the adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers and its factors that influence the choice of farmers’ in Hobicha woreda, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia. The data was collected from 137 sample households using a survey questionnaire and was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and econometric methods. The multivariate probit model was used to examine the adaptation strategies and the determinant factors that influence farmers’ choice of the adaptation strategies respectively. The adaptation strategies considered in the MVPM model analysis were crop selection (49.6%), cropping calendar (61.3%), crop diversification (57.7%), soil and water conservation practices (45.3%) and irrigation (8.8%). In addition, the MVPM analysis showed that gender, age, educational status, farm size, Soil fertility, distance from the market center, agroecology, access to climate information and access to credit of the households are significant factors influencing the smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies. Therefore, strengthening the farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change is important policy implication.