CLIMATE VARIABILITY, EFFECT AND DETERMINANTS OF ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AMONG PASTORAL HOUSEHOLDS: THE CASE OF HARSHIN DISTRICT, FAFAN ZONE SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Climate change has been recognized as one of the highest environmental problems that the humankind faced in this century. Climate change and variability affects all global society, while pastoral community is more vulnerable to the impact. The objective of this study is to investigate the climate variability, its effect and determinant of adaptation strategies among pastoral households in Harshin District, Fafan Zone Somali regional state, Ethiopia. This study employed mixed method research design that combine both quantitative and qualitative approach. The study used both primary and secondary data collected from household questionnaire survey, focus Group discussion and Key Interview Informants. The study also used climate data for the period between 2008 to 2023. A total of 186 sampled households were randomly selected from two kebeles. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used to analyze demographic, socio economic and institutional characteristics of the sample respondents. Mann-Kendall test and coefficient of variation (CV) were employed to analyze trend and variability of seasonal and annual rainfall and temperature. The study also employed multinomial logit model to identify factors that determines pastoral households’ preference on choice of adaptation strategies. The findings of this study showed that rainfall decreased in general with high variability, while, temperature showed increase with low variability. Most of the surveyed households reported that climate variability affected their livelihood negatively. According to the finding pastoral households used different adaptation strategies such as mobility, destocking, herd splitting and etc. The results of multinomial logit regression showed that sex, age, family size, active members in the family, livestock holding, income, finance support, credit access, access to climate information are significant factors that influence adaptation strategies of the pastoral households. Hence, to increase adaptive capacity of the society, this study recommends increase in financial support, extension services and trainings, climate information and early warnings, implementations of climate smart agricultural practices. Lastly, further studies should be conducted to contribute to the efforts in all levels.