CLIMATE CHANGE, IMPACTS ANDDETERMINANTS OF ADAPTATION CHOICES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS: THE CASE STUDYOF SHASHOGO WOREDA, SNNPR ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Shashogo woreda is located in the north eastern Hadiya zone part of the South Northern Nationalities Peoples Republic Ethiopia, where future climate change is predicted the farmer’s agriculture system beyond their coping range. The objective of this study was to assess major features of climate change on local climate and its impact, and to identify the determinant of farmer’s choice of adaptation measures and identifies adaptation methods to climate change in Ethiopia using Shshogo wreda as a case study. The data was collected from 293 sample households using a survey questionnaire and was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and econometric methods. Multinomial logit model was used to identify factors determinants of adaptation choice to climate change. The adaptation strategies considered in the Multinomial logit model analysis were changing planting date, crop variety and pattern, improve crop and livestock, and soil and water conservation practices. The results from the multinomial logit analysis showed that age, family size, farm income, farm size, distance to the market, access to credit, Total Livestock holding Unit, frequency of extension contact and access to climate information are significance factors influencing to farmers’ adaptation strategies. The basic barriers to climate change adaptation on the farmers’ side are lack of money, lack of information, shortage of land, poor potential for irrigation, lack of market access, lack of credit access, lack of agricultural inputs and lack of extension service. Finally, some of the recommendation in the study area concerned on improve agricultural production includes with most affected social groups, improving the availability of credit, the strategic use of incentives in adapting and innovating appropriate technologies and enhancing research on use of new crop varieties are more suited in different agro ecological zones.