MAJOR FEATURES OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES BY PASTORAL HOUSEHOLDS: THE CASE OF SHINILE WOREDA, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Climate change which are mainly attributable to recurrent droughts have been a major challenge in the Ethiopian lowlands. Despite recognizing features as one of the most important factors in the study of climate change and variability, the link between pastoralists’, climate change and adaptation strategies to climate variability are not explored and empirically established in the study area. That is, the extent to which the pastoralists’ adaptation in the study area enhance and /or constrain the scope of implementing adaptation strategies has not been studied systematically. This study therefore analyses feature of climate variability and adaptation strategies and factors affecting the adaptation of pastoral communities within the context of climate change in Sitti zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. It used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Data was collected by using questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observations. Results reveal that pastoral communities recognise the trends of climate variability and its adaptation strategies. The capabilities of pastoral communities to adapt to the features of climate change have been constrained by rangeland degradation, scarcity of assets, ethnic-based boundaries, conflict, bush encroachment, illiteracy, household size and lack of training and awareness. The overall findings indicate that despite the pastoralists’ recognition of climate variability and, context and scientific knowledge-based development measures are not designed and implemented to overcome the mojar features of climate change in the area. There is therefore a need for the formulation and implementation of various climate change and variability related policies and strategies including strong cooperation, communication and information sharing about the extent of vulnerability among government and various stakeholders in order to address major constraints adaptation strategies based on the context of pastoral communities.