Impacts of Climate Variability on Crop Production and Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies in Bassona Worana Woreda, North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia
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Date
2014-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Climate change is expected to have serious environmental, economic and social impacts in Ethiopia. The extent of which these impacts depends on the level of adaptive capacity, particularly among rural farmers whose livelihood depends on rain-fed agriculture as a primary source of food production. The study analyzed the impact of climate change on crop production and farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change in Bassona Worana Woreda of North Shoa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia.
This study was based on both secondary and primary data by conducting a comprehensive assessment of temperature and rainfall variations and the impacts on the most commonly grown crops. Farmers’ adaptation strategies were examined based on a questionnaire designed to investigate farmers’ ability to adapt to climate change. Mann-Kendall trend tests were used to examine trends of temperature and rainfall. Whereas Correlation and regression tests were carried out against dependent variables (teff, wheat, barley and sorghum) in order to examine the relationship between climate variability and crops. The study was also analyzed farmers’ perception and adaptation responses to climate change. The finding of the study shows that there is significant increasing trend in the amount of annual rainfall (4.857mm/year). However, there is a significant decreasing trend of rainfall during Belg season (-2.88mm/year). Mean annual temperature and mean annual maximum temperature shows a significant increasing trend while the mean annual minimum temperature is increasing but not significant.
Significant negative correlations were observed between Belg rainfall and crop production and negative correlations between most of annual, seasonal and monthly temperatures and crop production. The survey revealed that a significant number of farmers believed that temperatures were increasing and precipitation was declining.
Farmers’ perceptions on whether the climate was changing were greatly influenced by incidences of drought and changes in the seasonal timing of rainfall. Farmers practiced soil and water conservation and planting trees as a major adaptation options. The findings suggest that Ethiopia should begin to plan for climate contingencies at grassroots level. Augmenting the existing adaptation skill should be given a high priority and actions that make agriculture sectors more immune to climate should be taken in advance.
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Climate Variability, Crop Production, Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies, Bassona Worana Woreda, North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia