Impacts of Rainfall Variability on Rural Livelihoods in Ethiopia: The Case Study of Arsi Robe Woreda of the Oromia National Regional State
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Rainfall variability becomes norm at present time and the pressure that induced by it
increasing from time to time in different parts of the country. The impact is become more
serious in areas of highly depending on rain fed agriculture Like Robe Woreda. So,
understanding the impacts on rural livelihood and mounting different coping and
adaptation strategies are the only solution to overcome the challenges. Hence, the overall
objective of this paper is focused on assessing the impacts of rainfall variability on rural
livelihood. To achieve these object ives and to expand ing understanding the impacts of rainfall
variability on rural livel ihood the researcher utilizes both qualitative and quantitative
methods .The primary data was collected from Focused group discussion, key informant
interview, field observation, and questi·onnaire. The seco ndary data was collected from
NMSA and WMSA. Moreover, understanding of the impacts of rainfa ll variability on
rural livelihood; principally crop and livestock production was helps to employed and
developing different coping and adaptation strategies. Agricultural production systems and especially the complexities associated with the
variability and distribution of rainfall are essential elements in improving livestock and
crop production and agricultural planning decision making. In the at hand paper,
knowledge from the analysis of historical rainfall records and predictive information
were based on the "response farming" for rainfall variability in the future. From the
analysis of the rainfall records good relationships are found between rain onset dates,
seasonal rain amounts and duration and crop and livestock production. Crop and animal
production increase or decrease in relation to rain fall distribution, the better the
distribution and intensity and low rainfall variabi lity the higher production and
productivity. The finding of this research indicates serious impacts of rainfall variabi lity on crop and
livestock production which led to food insecurity. Fanners' perception also varies in
rainfall variability as well as the employed coping and adaptations strategies. Most
farmers employed three major · coping and adaptation strategies; intensification,
diversification, migration. However, all methods were not successful all the time due to
poor and customary of the coping strategies.
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Keywords
Rural Livelihoods in Ethiopia