IMPACT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) PRODUCTIVITY AND ADAPTATION STRATAGIES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN GIBE WOREDA OF HADIYA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Investigating the dynamics of meteorological variables in the context of changing climate, particularly in countries where rainfed agriculture is predominant, vital to assess climateinduced changes and suggest feasible adaptation strategies. To that end, this study was conducted in Gibe Woreda of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia to analyze rainfall and temperature variability impacts on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers. Data on rainfall and temperature (1988-2017) and wheat yield (2000-2014) were obtained from National Meteorological Agency and Gibe Woreda agriculture office, respectively. A total of 332 sample household heads were selected using simple random sampling method for interview to assess adaptation strategies of the study area. Climate parameters; rainfall totals, onset, cessation and length of growing period analyses were analyzed using Instat V3.37 software. The variability, trend, correlation and regression analyses were done using XLSTAT 2014 and SPSS statistical software. Annual and kiremt mean rainfall was 1215 and 621.2 mm at Fonko station and 1172 and 916 mm at Hosanna station respectively. The observed variability trends indicated a decreasing trend in rainfall total in monthly, kiremt and annual rainfall totals at Fonko and Hosanna stations and non-significant trend was observed in the study area. Annual, kiremt and monthly maximum temperature showed an increasing trend at both stations. However, minimum temperature showed a non-significant decreasing trend. The result of relationship between wheat and climatic variables showed that kiremt rainfall total (r=0.712) and kiremt maximum temperature had significant a strong positive and negative correlation with wheat yield respectively whereas LGP, cessation date (r = 0.336) and kiremt minimum temperature (r=0.018) had moderate and very weak positive correlation with wheat yield. Kiremt onset date of rainfall (r = -0.176) has very weak and negative correlation with wheat yield. Less variability cessation date was considered as compared to the onset date however, historical variability of LGP showed high variability when compared to onset and cessation date. The linear regression analysis predicts that an increase in kiremt total rainfall, cessation date, LGP, and kiremt minimum temperature leads to an increase in wheat yield. However, an increase in kiremt maximum temperature and onset date cause a decrease in wheat yield. Regarding adaptation strategies, most of the respondents have adjusted their farming practices to adapt to the impacts of variability in rainfall patterns and temperature. Planting drought tolerant and early maturing wheat verities, crop diversification, implementing soil and water conservation practices, changing planting date were major adaptation strategies used by farmers in response to variable climate. However, due to lack of effectiveness and low adaptation capacity, crop production in the area is still affected by climate variability. Therefore, the farmers should be supported more in their effort to adapt to climate variability in multiple ways by the government or nongovernmental organizations