W/Tsadik, Muluneh (PhD)Tesfaye, Mesfin2018-07-032023-11-192018-07-032023-11-192002-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/5654The study assessed the rural communities’ perception about climate change and their attitudes towards livelihood adaptation strategies in Ware Jarso district, north Showa zone of Oromia regional government. A total of 139 farmers were surveyed for the study with the structured questionnaire, scheduled interview and focus group discussion. The assessment of the rural communities’ perception about the impacts /consequence/ of climate variability and change in the study area shows that all of the rural communities have been perceived the loss of agriculture production. The majority perceive water shortage for; household consumption, small scale irrigation and animal to drink, incidences of communicable human, animal and plant diseases, increasing the number of people in need of food aid, increases the requirement of fertilizers, frequent occurrences of drought and famine, seasonal migration of people, and desertification were responded by 98.6 %, 92.8%, 88.4%, 82.6%, 79.7%, 72.5% and 68.1% respectively. The findings of rural communities’ perception and attitude towards livelihood adaptation strategies indicate that all of the respondents were perceived the building water harvesting scheme, to store water during rainy season for dry season in ponds, and implementing the multi use of water from one source (water recycling) for different purpose, example, for their cattle, irrigation and Cultivating crops that can resist drought, diseases and have short harvesting season, Different planting dates, Shifting from subsistent rain fed agriculture to small scale market oriented irrigation, Growing commercial crops and vegetables under irrigation, Pooling of resources through societies, safety net and social grants from government, Use of interhousehold transfers and loans and increasing petty commodity production , Mixed cropping and crop diversification, Reduction of consumption amount and frequency of agricultural products, 95.7%,95.7 %,88.4 %,84.1 %,81.2 %,79.7 %, and 76.8 % respectively . The survey showed that the respondents have positive attitude towards livelihood adaptation strategies and there is a significant association between age, education and perception in the causes and consequences of climate change and the preferences and uses of the livelihood adaptation strategies. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that there is a need of modifying educational/training programs which was provided for the rural communities by considering the existing knowledge and practices in the particular areas and providing of energy which it’s by products can substitute’s chemical fertilizer and will minimize the rural communities’ expenditureenGeography and Environmental StudiesThesis