Transforming food insecure farmers from climate variability and land degradation susceptibility to resilient livelihoods

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the food security status of climate variability and land degradation-susceptible farmers, and measures used to transform to resilient livelihood. A Mixed approach was used to sample respondents and discussants. In the study, 342 household heads were interviewed for quantitative data whereas 12 focused group discussions and 20 key informant interviewees were made to collect qualitative data. While semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, guiding questions were employed to gather qualitative data. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the binary logit model, whereas qualitative data were presented using thematic procedures. The results show that farmers have demonstrated experience with the changing patterns of climate change-persuaded episodes and its impacts on their food production. In the study area, according to the respondents, low yield (98 %), land degradation (97 %), food shortage (96 %), reduced income (95 %), food insecurity (95 %), and prevalence of disease and pest (85 %) were the major direct and indirect impacts posed by climate change. Besides, based on the calorie intake, 73 % of the households were found food insecure with an average of 1,790 kca, which is below from country and global minimum average that is 2200 and 2100, respectively. To improve food security and the impacts of climatic extremes and increase the ability to either cope or adapt to climate-related problems, farmers were employing strategies including sowing time adjustment, and soil and water conservation. The results of the binary logit regression model showed that repeated drought, farmland size, credit access, the unpredictability of rain, fertilizers usage, amount of rainfall, and social assistance significantly (P < 0.05) affect the food security status of the households. Strengthening integrated land rehabilitation to improve yield could transform the food insecure and land degradation-susceptible households to climate-resilient means of livelihood in semi-arid northern Ethiopia. Policymakers and development planners should emphasis on how to widen the practice of organic and inorganic fertilizers, soil and water conservation, tree planting, income diversification, access to credit services, and water harvesting to transform and sustain the livelihood of food insecure and vulnerable farmers towards resilient status.