EFFECTS OF CLIMATE VARIABLITY ON MAIZE (Zea mays L.) YIELD AND CHALLENGES OF ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN GUTO GIDA DISTRICT, EAST WOLLEGA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

High temperature and drought are the main constraining factors of production of different crops including maize in many parts of the country. The impact of climate variability on important food crops has not been well assessed at local scale. Therefore, the major objective of this study was to assess the effects of climate variability on maize yield and assess challenges of adaptation strategies in Guto Gida district. The climatic data were collected for the study from National Meteorological Agency and maize yield data were acquired from agricultural offices of the district. To analyze the collected data of temperature and rainfall, Instat 3.37 versions, Mann-Kendall and excel 2007 were employed. Further, correlation and multiple regressions were employed to determine the relationship and effects of rainfall and temperature on maize yields. The analyzed data showed that, the total annual rainfall was less variable and increased by 10.95mm/yr at Fayinera; moderately variable and increased by 19.67mm/yr at Uke. The mean minimum and maximum temperature were less variable andincreased by 0.028oC/yr and0.013oC/yr respectively at Fayinera. However, the minimum and maximum temperatures were less variable and decreased by 0.037oC/yr 0.063oc respectively at Uke. Onset rain end date rain and length of growing periods had negative correlation with maize whereas kiremt rainfall total and kiremt average temperature had positive correlation with maize yield. It was also observed that, 75 % and 84% of total variation in maize yield is explained jointly by (R2 value 0.75 and 0.84) onset rain, kiremt rainfall total and kiremt average temperature at Fayinera and Uke respectively. Diversifying livelihood activities, savings and credit, modifying farming practices, were the commonly experienced adaptation strategies against climate variability while abrupt change of weather condition environmental degradation, lack of infrastructures, market problem were the challenge that made adaptation strategies ineffective in studied area. Since late onset negatively affected maize yield, the farmers should follow early onset; accordingly they should use to kiremt rainfall effectively