Factors affecting smallholder farmers’ local knowledge-based adaption to build resilience in Wolaita zone, Ethiopia

This study aims to identify factors affecting local adaptation strategies smallholder farmers are practising to adapt multiple stresses. Primary data were collected from 400 randomly sampled households from six districts of Wolaita zone by face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Survey data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A binary logit model was employed to identify factors affecting smallholder farmers’ local adaptation strategies. A total of 15 explanatory variables, identified from relevant empirical literature, was included in the binary logit model to assess their relationship to the dependent variable – households’ decision to employ various local adaptations. The study found that eight of the explanatory variables such as age, farmland size, livestock owned, income, distance to market, extension agent visist, participation in the local organizations, and agro-ecology significantly influenced local adaption strategies. Additionally, qualitative data from focus group discussions and key informant interviews showed that the role and use of local adaptation have been ignored and marginalized. This study suggests the government should recognize the importance of local knowledge, multiple stakeholders should participate to enhance smallholders’ adaptabilities, interdisciplinary research is required, and communities should be supported to share their knowledge to build synergies between different knowledge systems.