Agroecosystem Based Climate Variability & Change Vulnerability & Adaptation Analysis, And Erosion Hazard Assessment in Fincha’a Sub Basin, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia
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2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Agroecosystem based Climate Variability and Change Vulnerability & Adaptation Analysis, and
Erosion Hazard Assessment in Fincha’a sub basin, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia
Israel Tessema Lewte, Addis Ababa University, 2019
The objective of the study is to analyze the agroecosystems of Fincha’a sub basin and their
climate variability and change vulnerability, and to examine how smallholder farmers of the sub
basin have perceived and adapted to climate variability and change. The study is based on
household and field-level primary data collected from 380 farm households in the Highland,
Midland, Wetland (seasonally waterlogged), and Lowland agroecosystems of the Fincha’a subbasin. The LVI approach framed within IPCC is customized for the agro-ecosystem specific
vulnerability analysis and the RUSLE model utilized to study the level of erosion hazard.
Primarily, agro-ecosystem analysis conducted in collaboration with experts, development
agents, and local communities; and four distinct agroecosystems (Highland, Midland, Wetland
(seasonally waterlogged), and Lowland) identified. Then, the identified agroecosystems
examined in light of their potential for agricultural production and the challenge presented by
climate variability and change. Based on the vulnerability analysis, the study found that the
lowland AES exhibited higher exposure, low adaptive capacity, and high vulnerability while the
midland AES demonstrated lower exposure, higher adaptive capacity, and lower vulnerability.
The wetland and highland AESs scored intermediate results. Investigation of the perception and
adaptation strategy of smallholder farmers identified that majority of the community perceived
there is climate variability and change. However, the adaptation measures implemented until
now are not adequate to meet the impending challenges situate by climate variability and
change. The result from the erosion hazard analysis revealed that the potential annual soil loss
of the watershed ranges from 0.0 to 350.93 t ha-1 yr-1
and the average annual soil loss for the
whole watershed anticipated at 37.54 t ha-1 yr-1
. Despite significant number of farmers’
perceived climate variability and change, the number of farmers adopted certain adaptation
measures that minimizes their vulnerability are below average. These necessitate the need for
planned interventions to identify and support effective adaptation measures. Furthermore, offfarm, non-farm, and watershed based appropriate soil and water conservation strategies should
be enhanced by fostering the enforcement of scientific land use.
Keywords: Agro-ecosystem, Climate changes, Vulnerability, Adaptation, Soil erosion hazard, Watershed
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Keywords
Agro-ecosystem, Climate changes, Vulnerability, Adaptation, Soil erosion hazard, Watershed