CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES BY SMALL HOLDER AGROPASTORALISTS IN BOKE DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

climate variability is recognized as one of the greatest challenges of our world today .It is predicted to have adverse consequences on the world’s ecosystems, economies and societies the severity of adverse effects varies across countries, regions, and socio-demographic groups due to differences in exposures, sensitivities and adaptive capacities The thesis was conducted on climate variability and adaptation strategies by smallholder agro-pastoralists in four kebeles of Boke District, West Hararghe zone, Oromia regional state, Eastern Ethiopia. The purpose of this study was to assess climate variability and adaptation strategies by smallholder agro pastoralists. To achieve the objectives set, appropriate data was collected from four sample Kebeles, which were selected through purposive sampling method based on their agro-ecological conditions and 292 household heads were selected from the four sample Kebeles. the study were used a mixed research design, four FGD were used as primary sources of information and the data were analyzed by multinomial logistics regression model and Chi square and ANOVA test were also used and The results of the multinomial logistic regression model showed that the decision to choose a certain adaptation strategy to climate variability depends on: sex of the household head, age of the household head, family size, education level of the household head, access to climate information and frequency of extension visits. Based on the findings the following recommendations are forwarded: provision of climate information for farmers, provision of extension services, introduce new agricultural technologies and inputs, diversifying source of income and empowering women.