Abstract:
Climate change is real and might affect all regions, countries and rural areas in some way.
Smallholder farmers are most at risk to its impacts. Successful adaptation is therefore needed to
increase their resilience to climate change. However, the capacity to adapt depends on specific
institutional arrangements operating within the society. The main objective of this study was to
investigate the role of local institution to climate change adaptation in Haramaya Woreda,. The
study was used multistage sampling techniques for the survey. A household survey was
conducted using 296 heads of households who were randomly selected. Face to face interviews
were organized with 10 heads of institutions involved in smallholder farmer development project
in the study Kebele’s. Quantitative data from the field was subjected to statistical analysis such
as binary logistic, multiple regressions and chi-squares tests and presented in the form of
frequencies and percentages. According to the results three of the institutions were in existence
and the smallholders were also confirmed that, there were climate changes in the areas. Besides,
accessibility of farming households to local institutions have significant contribution for
improvements of livelihood assets such as human, financial, natural, social and physical capitals
at local level. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, institutions must develop
innovative ways of spreading out their reach (such as outreach on market days) in order to aid
farmer adaptation. In addition, the improvement of financial, natural and physical capitals of
livelihood assets play remarkable role for promoting the welfare status of smallholders.
Therefore, the local government bodies should work hard to improve the accessibility of all
public institutions to meet the service needs of people that can change their livelihood.
