SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CASE OF JAMMA DISTRICT OF SOUTH WOLLO ZONE, ETHIOPIA

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 and adaptation strategies used by smallholder farmers in Jamma district of South Wollo Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. The study utilized both primary and secondary 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. The relevant secondary data were also obtained from different governmental offices. Descriptive statistics were used to provide insights into farmers’ perception, types of adaptation strategies and to explain factors affecting climate change adaptation strategies. Multivariate probit model was used to analyze the determinants of households’ choice of adaptation strategies. The model results confirm that sex, level of education, farming experience, household size, farm income, off/non-farm income, livestock ownership, distance from the nearest market, credit used, farmer to farmer extension and frequency of extension contact have a statistically significant impact on the choice of climate change adaptation strategies in the study area. Therefore, future policy should focus on empowering female headed households, empowering people with information and education, improving farmer’s farm and off/non-farm income-earning opportunities, emphasizing on critical roles of extension service, facilitating credit utilization, introducing new technologies by considering socioeconomic and environmental settings and enhancing the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers in the study area