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Perceived Climate Change and Determinants of Adaptation Responses by Smallholder Farmers in Central Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Girma Geleta Megersa

    (Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Salale University, Fiche P.O. Box 245, Ethiopia)

  • Moti Jaleta

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Kindie Tesfaye

    (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa P.O. Box 5689, Ethiopia)

  • Mezegebu Getnet

    (Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) Ethiopia, Bole Sub-City, Wereda 9, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 30912, Ethiopia)

  • Tamado Tana

    (Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eswatini, Luyengo P.O. Box M205, Eswatini)

  • Berhane Lakew

    (Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Center, Holeta P.O. Box 2003, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Climate change is a global phenomenon but disproportionately affects smallholder farmers, prompting them to use various coping and adaptation strategies to counter the problem. This study aimed to examine the trends of climate parameters, assess farmers’ perception of climate change, and identify the strategies of adaptation measures in central Ethiopia. Climate data were obtained from the National Meteorological Agency. Survey data were collected from 120 randomly selected households in 2017 and complemented with focus group discussions. The Mann–Kendall approach was used to detect climate trends, while a rainfall anomaly was calculated using the rainfall anomaly index. Multinomial logit model was used to examine determinants of farmers’ adaptation to the perceived change. In most of the cases, farmers’ perceptions were in accordance with climate trend analyses. Farmers used crop diversification, adjustments of planting dates, destocking of livestock, seasonal migration, crop rotation, and climate information services to adapt to climate-related shocks. Empirical results showed that the age and education of the household heads, family size, access to extension services, and farm and nonfarm incomes had a significant association with the adaptation practices farmers took. The existence of strong correlations between the demographic, socio-institutional variables, and the choice of adaptation strategies suggests the need to strengthen local institutions to enhance the adaptation of smallholder farmers to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Girma Geleta Megersa & Moti Jaleta & Kindie Tesfaye & Mezegebu Getnet & Tamado Tana & Berhane Lakew, 2022. "Perceived Climate Change and Determinants of Adaptation Responses by Smallholder Farmers in Central Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6590-:d:826067
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maddison, David, 2007. "The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4308, The World Bank.
    2. Franklin Nantui Mabe & Gifty Sienso & Samuel Donkoh, 2014. "Determinants of Choice of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Northern Ghana," Research in Applied Economics, Macrothink Institute, vol. 6(4), pages 75-94, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dana Salpina & Francesco Pagliacci, 2022. "Are We Adapting to Climate Change? Evidence from the High-Quality Agri-Food Sector in the Veneto Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Girma Gezimu Gebre & Yuichiro Amekawa & Aneteneh Ashebir, 2023. "Can farmers’ climate change adaptation strategies ensure their food security? Evidence from Ethiopia," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(2), pages 178-193, April.

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