Smallholder farmers’ perception of climate change and adaptation strategy choices in Central Ethiopia

Yonnas Addis,Solomon Abirdew

doi:10.1108/ijccsm-09-2020-0096

Abstract

Purpose Smallholder farmers have always been profoundly the first to be impacted by climate change, and therefore, farmers understanding of climate change and accessibility to alternative adaptation strategies are crucial for reducing the effect of climate change. The purpose of this study is to assess the perception of farmers to climate change, adaptation strategies and determinants of adaptation choice in central Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach The study used data from randomly selected 240 farm households. Descriptive statistics were used to describe farmers’ perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies. Also, a multivariate probit model was used to identify the major factors affecting farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change in central Ethiopia. Findings Smallholder farmers perceive climate change in the past two decades in response; the majority (91.47%) of farmers used adaptation options. Improved crop varieties and input intensity, crop diversification, planting date adjustment, soil and water conservation activities and changing of the crop type were used as adaptation options in the study area. A few of these strategies were significantly confirmed a complementary and supplementary relationship. The study identified sex, family size, agroecology, climate information, crop-fail history and formal extension service as significant determinants for farmers’ adaptation choices as these variables significantly affected more than two farmers’ adaptation strategies simultaneously. Research limitations/implications Farmers’ choice of adaptation was highly constrained by institutional factors and all these identified factors can be possibly addressed through a better institutional service provision system. It is, therefore, recommended that local administrators should explore the institutional service provision system for a better farm-level adaptation while considering demographic characteristics as well. Originality/value This study identified factors affecting farmers’ several adaptation strategies at a time and provides information for the policymaker to make cost-effective interventions for better farm-level adaptation practices.

Highlights

Climate change affects the economic growth of developing countries due to its multiple interdependent effects on different sectors including, agriculture, health, forestry, fisheries and tourism (Kahsay et al, 2019; Lawson et al, 2019; Gedefaw et al, 2018; Weldegerima et al, 2018; Kompas et al, 2018; Kebede and Gizachew, 2017)
This study provides information about the possible supplementary and complimentarily association among adaptation strategies by using the multivariate probit (MVP) model, which is still scantily documented in the literature
The study concludes that the surveyed farm households in the Central part of Ethiopia observed changes in three climatic indicators, including rainfall, temperature and drought in the past two decades

Summary

Introduction

Climate change affects the economic growth of developing countries due to its multiple interdependent effects on different sectors including, agriculture, health, forestry, fisheries and tourism (Kahsay et al, 2019; Lawson et al, 2019; Gedefaw et al, 2018; Weldegerima et al, 2018; Kompas et al, 2018; Kebede and Gizachew, 2017). Improvement of smallholder understanding of climate change, the availability of alternative adaptation strategies and look for determinants of farmers adaptation capacity are among the strategic means of reducing climate change effects and ensuring food security issues in most developing countries (Berhanu and Beyene, 2015; Wondim et al, 2018). Farmers’ decision to use adaptation strategies, adaptation level and choice among the available adaptation options have been affected by demographic characteristics, agro-ecological setting, socioeconomic factors and other institutional constraints (Paulos and Belay, 2018). In this regard, numerous national and international research institutions and other stakeholders have been engaged in providing alternative adaptation strategies to enhance farm adaptation capacity. The Ethiopian government made numerous investments to enhance the generation and dissemination of new agricultural technologies (NAP-ETH [Ethiopia’s National Adaptation Plan], 2019)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion