W/ Tsadike, Muluneh (PhD)Cherinet, Abirham2018-06-292023-11-192018-06-292023-11-192017-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/4788The study was conducted in three kebeles of Ensaro woreda found in North Shewa zone, Amhara Regional State to assess the communities’ perception on climate change, impact and adaptation strategies. The study were used purposive sampling techniques to select both kebeles and household heads. The size of the sample household respondents were 124 out of each 22 participants were female headed households’, one FGD in each kebele with six members of participants and one key informant interviews were held. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis were used. The study used primary data through interview of households, FGDs, key informant interviews, observation and household survey. The study also used secondary data of temperature from 1987 to 2016 years from ENMSA gridded data to examine the trend of climate change/ variability. Binary logit model were used to see the relationships between dependent and independent variables. The average temperature of the woreda shows an increment by 0.67oc in the past three decades with an annual increment of 0.022oc. Similarly, there is declining trend of rainfall in the past three decades showing high variability. The annual rain fall of the woreda shows decreasing trend by 14.5 %. Based on the result of the study the frequency of drought has increased from time to time, and flood, landslide, pest and diseases are the most impact of climate change in the study area. Terracing, afforestation, rain water harvesting, crop diversification, use of improved crops, income diversification (petty trade, wage laborer etc.), seasonal migration and livestock management (destocking ,cut and feeding system) are the most coping/ adaptation strategies of farmers. The binary model results revealed that the respondent’s age, educational status, access to extension and farm experience have a positive and significant effect on farmer’s perception on climate change and adaptation. On the other hand sex of household heads, access to extension services, farm land size, access to market and access to credit have negative and significant effect on farmers perception on climate change and adaptation in the study area. Moreover, farmers living in the kola areas have been aware of climate change as compared to woyinadega and dega areas. This is due to the fact that lowland areas are already hotter and a marginal change in temperature could be perceived easily. The result revealed that most of the people perceived long-term variability in pattern of rainfall amount and distribution and an increasing trend and variabilities of temperature. Therefore farmers are undertaking different adaptation and coping mechanisms. Providing training, increasing accessibility to infrastructures, credit services, market and introducing new technologies are forwarded as recommendations. Key words: Climate change, Perception, Adaptation, BarriersenClimate ChangePerceptionAdaptationBarriersThesis