Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies of Rural Communities to Climate Change: The Case of Kola Tembien Woreda, Tigray Region
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Date
2014-05
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
Ethiopia, like many other countries in Africa, is highly vulnerable to the harmful effects of
climate change and the rural population, for whom agriculture is the primary source of food,
direct and/or indirect employment and income, will be most affected due to agriculture's
vulnerability to climate change. This study was conducted to assess locallagro ecology level
vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies of rural communities to climate change in Kola
Tembien Woreda, Tigray region. The specific objectives of the research are analyzing the level
of vulnerability across different communities in different agro ecologies, identifYing the major
adaptation strategies employed against the changing climate and the major factors influencing
their strategies to adapt to climate change impacts. A stratified sampling was employed to
determine the sample villages. Accordingly, four kebeles, namely Begashka, Tabotegiorgis,
Limat and Menji were selected from two agro ecological zones. Sample household respondents
were then selected randomly from each development group found in their respective kebeles.
Household survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were employed. An
indicator based vulnerability index was used to assess and compare the level of vulnerability
across the selected kebeles and agro ecological zones. Besides, descriptive statistics was used to
identifY the major adaptation strategies as well as major factors influencing the adaptation of
rural communities. Results obtained from the vulnerability index revealed that there was a
difference in the vulnerability levels of the selected kebeles. Accordingly, Menji (low land agroecology)
and Begashka (Mid land agro-ecology) were found to be relatively more vulnerable
than Limat (low land agro-ecology) and Tabotegiorgis (Mid land agro-ecology). The difference
inĀ· vulnerability was highly associated with the variations in the combined effects of livestock
ownership, saving, access to microflnance, farm land sizes, irrigation potential, and education
levels across the surveyed households. Adaptation strategies were found to be similar across the
surveyed kebeles (agro ecologies) and various crops, livestock and land related strategies has
been used across varied periods. However, households' choice of adaptation strategies were
found to be influenced by financial constraints, shortage of information, poor potential for
irrigation, land shortages .and even lack of labor: Therefore, efforts should be made by the local
government and NGOs "to promote the: off-farm income-earning opportunities and localljarmlevel
adaptation strategies by giving due attention to the early warning systems and disaster risk
management to reduce vulnerability and improve income levels.
Key words: vulnerability, principalpomponent analysis, adaptation strategies
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Keywords
vulnerability, principalpomponent analysis, adaptation strategies