IMPACTS OF DROUGHT AND IT’S DETERMINANT OF ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: IN THE CASE OF FEDIS DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Drought is one of the most damaging climate-induced threats impacting the lives of many people every year in general and study area in particular. The purpose of this study was to determine Impacts of drought and its determinants of Adaptation Strategies based on the field survey in Fedis woreda (district) of East Hararghe zone of Oromia regional state. A total of 328 sample respondents were selected by random sampling methods. The data were collected through questionnaire, focus group discussions, key informant interview and field observation. The study also used climate data of daily precipitation of rainfall from 1995 to 2021 to assess and identify Frequency and magnitude severity of recurrent drought. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted by qualitative and quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, Bar graph and pie chart) and standardized precipitation index by using statistical package for social science version 20 software. Moreover, multi nomial Logit model (MNL) was employed to analyze the determinant factors of adaptation strategies to drought impact. In order to adapt to the impact of drought smallholder farmer have been using a variety of strategies including Short-term growing crop variety, crop diversification, growing drought tolerant crop, Soil and water Management, changing planting date and small-scale irrigation. Results from choice MNL model indicated that gender, age, level of education, Family size, Farm size, ,Livestock holding, source of income, access to credit, access to early warning information and Extension contact influence smallholder farmer choices at 1%, 5% and 10% significance level. Moreover, the result revealed that entire study areas were found to be as frequent drought prone area. If the responses of smallholder farmers to drought impact are not well supported by the concerned bodies, the existing disaster preparedness and early warning systems in the area might not be enough to significantly mitigate the effects of drought and its impacts will be very serious on both the livelihood of local people and natural resources of the study area.