2024/08/31 by Jalata, Zerihun, Olana, Gudina, Regassa, Tena
#Adaptation #climate change #climate impacts #farmer’ perception
paper · doi:10.20372/afnr.v2i2.1085
The aim of this study was to assess the trends of climatic variability, farmers’ perspectives, and adaptation strategies to climate variability. The study involved 127 household respondents and group discussions with rural farmers from Begi district. It utilized both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques of primary and secondary data. The result revealed that mean annual temperature was a slightly increasing while the annual rainfall, total rainfall and seasonal rainfall showed high variability and slightly declining. Moreover, age, educational background, access to extension services, and farming experience have a positive impact on farmers' views on climate variability. Additionally, farmers residing in lowland regions demonstrated higher levels of awareness compared to those in mid-highland areas. Afforestation, terracing, planting early maturing crops and diversifying sources of income were among the commonly used adaptation strategies to climate change. Enhancing resilient agricultural practices to combat climate variability and change increases agricultural productivity, local community wellbeing and their environment.