EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AMONG PASTORALISTS AND AGROPASTORALISTS. THE CASE OF MIESO DISTRICT ,WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA MA THESIS FEYERA TILAHUN DESSALEGN JULY 2021 HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY,

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of climate change and adaptation strategies by pastoralists and agropastoralists in meiso district,Western Hararghe zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. A sample of 260 households was used and data collected using Focus Group Discussions ,key informant interviews and household questionnaires. Other information was collected from secondary sources.The mann Kendall trend test indicated that precipitation decreased by -12.82mm/year at 0.05significance level. opposed to rainfall, temperature is increasing by 0.0450c at 0.05 significance level. FGD with pastoralists and agropastoralists indicated the effects of climate change as feed shortage, shortage of water,reduced crop and livestock productivity increased mortality and disease. The major adaptation strategies in pastoral area includes diversification of livestock species and herd mobility.In agropastoral area the major adaptation strategies were mixed crop-livestock farming followed by changing livestock feed. Multinomial logit model show that training services,income access to credit , land scarcity and lack of climate information factors have a significant impact on mobility as an adaptation option at 5% level of significance. Lack of institutional support like access to credit would increase the mobility adaptation choice by 0.56% in the pastoral community. Land Scarcity and lack of access to credit increase the probability of pastoralists and agropastoralists adaptation strategies by 21.7% and 1.15%, respectively. The study recommends a number of policy options and strategies towards climate change. It also proposes need for policy advocacy at national and international levels on climate change issues as well as increasing water use efficiency and productivity,sustainable agriculture; promoting economic diversification and alternative livelihoods. There is also the need for research and development of innovative solutions to the challenges affecting Pastoralism and agropastoralism