DETERMINANTS OF FARMERS’ ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON MAIZE [Zea Mays L] YIELD IN ADAMI TULLU JIDO KOMBOLCHA WOREDA, EAST SHOA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Climate variability directly and indirectly affect cultivation of maize yield, these condition impacting the smallholder farmer living in the Ethiopia specially whose life is dependent on rain fed agriculture. The objective of this study is to assess Determinants of Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies to the Impact of Climate Variability on Maize [Zea Mays L] Yield in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha Woreda. Data was collected from 330 sample smallholder farmers’ were selected purposely from three kebeles through survey questioner, interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative and Qualitative data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The quantitative data includes long-term climatic data and maize outputs for 30 years (1994 – 2023) that were obtained from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) of Ethiopia Asela branch and Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha Agricultural Office, respectively. Data from different sources were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including coefficient correlation, multivariate regression and multinomial logit models (MNL). The result of the study shows that the annual maximum and minimum temperature significantly increased by a factor of 0.144 0C and 0.148 0C respectively. In the study area, there was a positive correlation between maize yield and annual rainfall(r= 0.981).Due to climatic factors, about 98.1% of maize yield variation was observed in the study area. The regression result shows that climate variables significantly affect maize yields. Regarding the factors affecting the farmer’s choice of adaptation strategies to climate variability sex, age, family size, level of education, experience, income and others are significant affecting by level of confidence, respectively the choices of adaptation strategies to climate variability. Hence, these findings suggested a need to encourage smallholder farmers’ adaptive capacity.