Communities’ Perception on Climate Change Variability and Attitudes Towards Livelihood Adaptation Strategies
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Date
2002-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study assessed the rural communities’ perception about climate change and their
attitudes towards livelihood adaptation strategies in Ware Jarso district, north Showa
zone of Oromia regional government. A total of 139 farmers were surveyed for the
study with the structured questionnaire, scheduled interview and focus group
discussion.
The assessment of the rural communities’ perception about the impacts /consequence/
of climate variability and change in the study area shows that all of the rural
communities have been perceived the loss of agriculture production. The majority
perceive water shortage for; household consumption, small scale irrigation and
animal to drink, incidences of communicable human, animal and plant diseases,
increasing the number of people in need of food aid, increases the requirement of
fertilizers, frequent occurrences of drought and famine, seasonal migration of people,
and desertification were responded by 98.6 %, 92.8%, 88.4%, 82.6%, 79.7%, 72.5%
and 68.1% respectively.
The findings of rural communities’ perception and attitude towards livelihood
adaptation strategies indicate that all of the respondents were perceived the building
water harvesting scheme, to store water during rainy season for dry season in ponds,
and implementing the multi use of water from one source (water recycling) for
different purpose, example, for their cattle, irrigation and Cultivating crops that can
resist drought, diseases and have short harvesting season, Different planting dates,
Shifting from subsistent rain fed agriculture to small scale market oriented irrigation,
Growing commercial crops and vegetables under irrigation, Pooling of resources
through societies, safety net and social grants from government, Use of interhousehold
transfers and loans and increasing petty commodity production , Mixed
cropping and crop diversification, Reduction of consumption amount and frequency of
agricultural products, 95.7%,95.7 %,88.4 %,84.1 %,81.2 %,79.7 %, and 76.8 %
respectively .
The survey showed that the respondents have positive attitude towards livelihood
adaptation strategies and there is a significant association between age, education
and perception in the causes and consequences of climate change and the preferences
and uses of the livelihood adaptation strategies.
Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that there is a need of modifying
educational/training programs which was provided for the rural communities by
considering the existing knowledge and practices in the particular areas and
providing of energy which it’s by products can substitute’s chemical fertilizer and will
minimize the rural communities’ expenditure
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Geography and Environmental Studies