Smallholder Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change: The Case of Jamma District of South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The research is financed by African Economic Research Consortium Abstract Climate change is causing the greatest environmental, social and economic threats across the globe. Its impact has been increasing especially on agricultural activities in developing countries. It depresses crop yields through temperature increase and reductions of precipitation. Climate change mainly affected low-income countries where their adaptive capacities are perceived to be low, due to weak institutional capacity, limited engagement in environmental and adaptation issues and lack of validation of local knowledge. A better understanding of the perceptions of farmers about climate change is essential to develop appropriate adaptation measures that can alleviate the adverse effects of climate change. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to examine perceptions of smallholder farmers in the Jamma district of South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. The study was used in both primary and secondary data sources to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Primary data were collected from a randomly selected 156 sample households interviewed through a structured questionnaire. Focus group discussion also used to collect the qualitative data about the perception and attitudes of smallholder farmers about climate change. Descriptive statistics were used to provide insights into farmers’ perceptions about change in temperature and precipitation patterns comparing with the metrological data. Among the sample respondents, 92.3 percent perceived as an increase in temperature. Similarly, 98.2 and 90.4 percent of the sampled households perceived that decreased the Belg rain and in the overall average rainfall in the main rain season (kiremt) respectively. Keywords : Climate Change, Jamma District Zone, Perception. DOI: 10.7176/DCS10-9-04 Publication date: September 30 th 2020