DROUGHT, ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AND DETERMINANTS OF CHOICES OF ADAPATATION OPTIONS: THE CASE OF MI’ESSO DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the major features of drought and drought risks and identify the key determinants of choice of adaptation strategies to drought. For this, 160 sample households were randomly selected for household survey. FGDs, KII and field observation were used for qualitative data collection. The findings revealed 79.4% of sample households were males and 20.6% females, with mean age of 43 years. The major livelihood bases constitute livestock production, crops production and non-farm employment that represent 45%, 34% and 21% of sources for annual household income respectively. Lack of precipitation and severe moisture deficiency, crop failure, erratic nature of rainfall, land degradation and lack of access to information were the most important causes of drought and drought risks in the study area among others. The tabulated sample mean scores of onesample t-test statistics revealed significant difference with 3 (average of five-point Likert scale) at p<0.01 that sample respondents tended to show strong agreement; namely: 4.88, 4.71, 4.64, 4.57 and 4.34 in the mentioned order. Adoption of transhumance, improved crops varieties, technical measures and livelihood diversification were the four categories of choice sets of adaptation strategies that farming communities implement to adapt to drought risks. The multinomial logit model estimates demonstrated that of the total 14 explanatory variables, age, landholding size, membership in social institutions, access to farm inputs, family size, livestock holding and total cash income of the household were found statistically significant to positively and negatively influence household’s choice of adaptation strategies. Weak adaptive capacity and poor institutional support services were stand behind the key features and causes of drought and drought risks in the study area. Government and nongovernmental organizations would mobilize resources and knowledge in order to strengthen drought adaptive capacity of the community in the study area.