Local Vulnerability to Climate Change and Farmers' Adaptation ' Strategies: The case of Choke Mountain watershed, Eastern Gojjam zone
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Date
2013-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Rural poor in developing countries including Ethiopia are the most vulnerable community to
climate change impacts because they depend mainly on climate sensitive economy. /-fence this
research allempted to assess the local vulnerability to climate change and farmers' adaptation
strategies in five dominant agro ecologies of Choke Mountain watershed of Eastern Gojjam
zune. The study attempted to examine farmers' perception towards climate change, their
vulnerability (exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity) status and the adaptation strategies
undertaken to cope with and reduce the impact of climate change and related hazards. To
achieve the objects set, necessary data were collected ./i"om sample kebeles through different
techniques. Due to time and budget constraint, the researcher selected only 10% of total kebele 's
household. Thus, the total sample respondents of the study area were, 100 in number. The study
used integrated assessment approach capturing diverse drivers (biophysical and socioeconomic)
of outcomes to assess vulnerabilil)l of the study to climate change. Descriptive
statistics was used to investigate farmers' perception and the adaptation strategies undertaking
in the study area. Whereas, LVJ-JPCC index was used to examine the vulnerability status. The
result confirmed that the majority of sample households perceived climate change and as the
impact of climate change was CJffecting their livelihood in many different directions. Even though
farmers who perceive climate change, have been undertaking various adaptation strategies, such
as irrigatiun, livelihood diversification, planting trees, soil and water conservation, the result
shows as it was not satisfactolY and insufficient, and need.s' to be enhanced. The LVI-I PCC, index
showed as the relatively most vulnerable ecosystems were, the hilly and mountainous areaA ES5
(DI kelemo) and the lowland area AESI (Kurar) whereas, the midland plainly kebeles (Yemezegn
and MI berhan) relatively less vulnerable area, and the slopping land (Enerata) as moderately
vulnerable to climate change, Generally, ./i"oll1the result of the study it can be concluded that the
area is exposed to climate change and extremes due to loll' adaptive capacity of the area, thus
high emphasis should be taken either by government or by the communities 10 reduce the impact,,
Key words: climate chaenge, vulnerability, exposure, adaptive capacity and selectivity
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Keywords
climate challenge, vulnerability exposure, adaptive capacity (111(/ sellsilivi(y