Geography Education (MEd)

THE IMPACT OF SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY: THE CASE OF TULIGULED DISTRICT, FAFAN ZONE, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

2026-06-22T07:33:00Z

THE IMPACT OF SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY: THE CASE OF TULIGULED DISTRICT, FAFAN ZONE, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA Mubarak Abdulahi Mohamed; Siyoum Girma (PhD); Admasu Bogale (PhD) Ethiopia’s agriculture is largely dominated by small-scale rain-fed production, which is vulnerable to irregular rainfall patterns. Small-scale irrigation is considered a key solution to mitigate these challenges, helping to reduce rural poverty and food insecurity while enhancing agriculture’s contribution to the national economy. This study examined the impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security in Tuliguled District, Fafan Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. Using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, data were collected from 224 households, including 109 irrigation users and 115 non-users. Both primary and secondary data sources were employed. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and propensity score matching. The analysis showed that 45% of irrigation users accessed water from groundwater, while 33% relied on pumped river water. The average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) revealed that households participating in irrigation consumed 1,256.86 Kcal/AE/Day more than non-participants. Descriptive statistics indicated that 75% of participants were food secure, compared to 48% of non-participants. Sorghum and maize were the main staple foods, with food shortages occurring primarily from July to December. Key factors influencing participation in small-scale irrigation included education, household size, land size, distance to markets and water sources, access to extension services, and non-farm income. Households often coped with food shortages through government food aid and consuming less preferred foods. The study concluded that small-scale irrigation is a viable strategy for improving food security in the region. It recommends expanding access to irrigation through government and non-governmental efforts to enhance rural livelihoods. 77p..

THE ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTION IN ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CASE OF HARAMAYA WOREDA EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

2026-06-22T06:12:39Z

THE ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTION IN ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CASE OF HARAMAYA WOREDA EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA Abiyu Teressa Hailemariam; Solomon Tekalign (PhD); Solomon Asfaw (PhD) Climate change is real and might affect all regions, countries and rural areas in some way. Smallholder farmers are most at risk to its impacts. Successful adaptation is therefore needed to increase their resilience to climate change. However, the capacity to adapt depends on specific institutional arrangements operating within the society. The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of local institution to climate change adaptation in Haramaya Woreda,. The study was used multistage sampling techniques for the survey. A household survey was conducted using 296 heads of households who were randomly selected. Face to face interviews were organized with 10 heads of institutions involved in smallholder farmer development project in the study Kebele’s. Quantitative data from the field was subjected to statistical analysis such as binary logistic, multiple regressions and chi-squares tests and presented in the form of frequencies and percentages. According to the results three of the institutions were in existence and the smallholders were also confirmed that, there were climate changes in the areas. Besides, accessibility of farming households to local institutions have significant contribution for improvements of livelihood assets such as human, financial, natural, social and physical capitals at local level. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, institutions must develop innovative ways of spreading out their reach (such as outreach on market days) in order to aid farmer adaptation. In addition, the improvement of financial, natural and physical capitals of livelihood assets play remarkable role for promoting the welfare status of smallholders. Therefore, the local government bodies should work hard to improve the accessibility of all public institutions to meet the service needs of people that can change their livelihood. 116p.

DETERMINANT OF FARMERS’ CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: THE CASE OF CHIRO WOREDA, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

2026-06-18T06:49:57Z

DETERMINANT OF FARMERS’ CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: THE CASE OF CHIRO WOREDA, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA Nega Mekonnin Andarghe; Kassaye Hussein (Ph.D.); Admasu Bogale (Ph. D) Adaptation to climate related hazards influenced by the experience in prolonged effects of changing climate and the determinants to choose adaptation measures by farm households. This is because the impacts of climate extremes could affect different areas and people within the same area differently. This study aims to determine how climate change is affecting subsistence farmers' decision to utilize adaptation strategies and how climate change is affecting them. A household survey conducted involving a sample of 145 randomly selected households. Field observation, KIIs, and FGDs utilized in order to collect qualitative data. Explanatory sequential mixed-method research approaches employed in order to meet the study's objectives. Furthermore, multinomial logit model (MNL) is utilized to identify the variables influencing the adaptation strategies sample household select, and farm households in the research area assessed institutional, socioeconomic, and demographic data using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that adaptation strategies used by farm households in the study area include improved crop varieties, crop diversification, soil and water conservation, and livelihoods diversification. The MNL model showed that Age, Family size, Income source, Membership/participation in informal institutions, Access to credit, and Extension contact, Access to water resource were found the determinants of choice of adaptation strategies to the effects of climate change by sample farm households. These factors have both positive and negative effects on smallholder farmers' decisions on adaptation strategies in the study area. The main effects of climate change on the health of Crop and livestock was the occurrence of crop disease, impact of pests, and degradation of land, this decreased crop yields and livestock products, and loss of household assets because of recurring droughts. The required interventions developed by public and community development organizations operating in the research area and at the regional level to enhance smallholder households' capacity to adapt to the negative effect of climate change 150p.

IMPACTS OF RAINFALL VARIABILITY AND DROUGHT ON FOOD SECURITYAND SMALLHOLDER FARMERS' ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN GUJI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

2026-06-18T06:09:34Z

IMPACTS OF RAINFALL VARIABILITY AND DROUGHT ON FOOD SECURITYAND SMALLHOLDER FARMERS' ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN GUJI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA Menbere Sahilu Gebrehana; Solomon Tekalign (PhD); Tegegne Sishaw (PhD); Yimer Mohammed (PhD); Solomon Asfaw (PhD); Haji Kedir (PhD) Rainfall distribution and trends reveal spatial and temporal variability which has a significant impact on smallholder farmers' livelihood. This research sought to examine spatio-temporal variability and trends of spring and autumn rainfall, characterize drought, and assess perceptions of smallholder farmers towards the impacts of rainfall variability and drought on food security and adaptation strategies across three Agro ecological Zones (AEZs). Primary data were collected via sample survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Gridded rainfall time series data were obtained from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute from 1990-2020, besides different published and unpublished data sources were used. The onset and cessation date of rainfall was determined using Walter's formulation. The Mann Kendall trend test was employed to detect the trend of rainfall and drought, while Sen's slope was used to test their magnitude of change. The seasonal and annual variability of rainfall was assessed using Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) and Coefficient of Variation (CV). The Inverse Distance Weighted Index (IDWI) was used to interpolate the spatial distributions of annual and seasonal rainfall. The Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI) was applied to analyze the severity, duration, and spatial coverage of drought. The Household Food Security Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to analyze the level of food insecurity across the three AEZ of East Guji Zone. The binary logistic econometric model was used to identify determinants of food security and adaptation techniques of smallholder farmers in the study area. Descriptive statistics were used at every level of data analysis. Geographic Information System, Excel stat, SPSS and DrinC 1.7 software programs were utilized to examine quantitative data. The findings demonstrated that altitude and rainfall decrease as one descends from the western (highland AEZ) to the eastern (lowland AEZ) in the study area. Rainfall in the study area varies from the lowland Negele (624mm) which recorded the smallest to the highland Solemo (1262mm) the highest mean annual rainfall. Similarly, the mean length of the growing season declines from the western to eastern part of the study area. The PCI of the lowlands, midlands, and highlands AEZs were 19 %, 17%, and 12 % respectively implying that both lowlands and midlands had an irregular distribution of rainfall while highlands had moderately concentrated rainfall distribution. In contrast, the low and midlands had shown high variability of rainfall (CV >30%) in all seasons. Conversely, the highland's CV suggests moderate variability of rainfall (CV <30 %), with values of 28%, 29 %, and 29% in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons respectively. Moreover, a significant (p< 0.05) increasing trend of annual rainfall was observed in the highlands AEZs (Bore 15.3 mm/year and Solemo14.6 mm/year), in the lowland AEZs (Chembe 10.9 mm/year, Dawa 8 mm/year and Bitata 7.8 mm/year) as well as in the midland AEZs (Kercha 14.5 mm/year). In the meantime, drought has shown statistically significant (p <0.05) declining trend in the autumn and annual (12 months) drought in the highland AEZs (Bore and Solemo), in the midland (Kercha) and in the lowlands (Chembe and Dawa). Food insecurity increases from high to mid and lowlands in the same manner with the increase in seasonal rainfall variability from high to mid and lowlands (CV >30). The finding indicates that food insecurity decreases from lowlands through midlands to highlands. Based on the HFIAS of the lowland AEZ (Negele) was severely food insecure (17.5), midland (Adola) was moderately food insecure (11.3) and highland (Bore) was mildly food insecure with (8.7) value. The results of the binary logistic model revealed that age and sex of the household head, household size, cultivated land size, farming experience, AEZ, size of the tropical livestock unit, level of education, distance from the market and receipt of food aid all positively contribute to household food security significantly at (p <0.05).On the other hand, factors that are less likely to predict households' food security include marital status, access to credit, and access to drought resistant crops. The most popular adaptation strategies pursued by the smallholder farmers of the study area were planting eucalyptus trees (planting trees) in place of food crops, utilizing drought-resistant crop varieties, and mixed cropping. The significant (p <0.05) factors which determine choices of adaptation strategies were AEZ, sex of the HH, household size, size of the tropical livestock unit, level of educational HH, having enough food, obtaining food aid, and time to reach to the local market. Since shortage and variability of rainwater has been identified as a serious problem, strategies should be designed to use additional water resources for irrigation, supplying irrigation pumps, providing short-cycle growth, and drought-resistant crops in the midlands and lowlands AEZ. Adaptation methods; Agro ecological zone; East Guji; Food security; Rainfall variability and Drought; Perception 236p.