Determinants of Farmers Adaptation to Climate Change in West Guji Zone. Evidence from Bule Hora District

Abstract or Introduction

The main objective of this study is to identify the factors that affect the farmer adaptation decision to cope up with the impact of climate change and variability, as well as to identify farmers’ preferences to the possible adaptation mechanisms in Bule Hora District. The study was entirely depended on the primary data which was collected from the farm household. A sample of 150 farm households was taken. The data was collected by using the survey questionnaire. Both non-probability and probability sampling techniques viz. purposive sampling technique and a simple random sampling method were used for selecting the kebeles and the respondents, respectively. The data was analysed using both descriptive statistics and econometric methods.

In this study, the logit model was used to identify the determinants taking adaptation measures to reduce the impact of climate change and variability in the study area. The results of the study revealed that, improved crop and livestock variety is the most preferred adaption measure by the farmers in the study area to reduce the impact of climate change variability whereas temporary migration is the least preferred climate change adaptation strategy by the farmers in the study area. In addition to this, the results we obtain from the Logit Model Regression indicate years spent on schooling by the household head, the amount farm size the farmer owned, the number of livestock the farmer owned, access to credit and farmers-to-farmers extension service were found significant in explaining the farmers' adaptation decision. These variables positively influence the farmers’ adaptation decision.

However, non-farm income and fertility level of the farm are the variables which are negatively and significantly affecting farmers’ decision to take adaptation measure for climate change and variability. Thus, any stakeholder should intensively work on accessing education to farmer, accessing credit service and farmer-to-farmer extension services in addition to the formal extension service. In addition, designing a policy measure by considering micro-level farmers’ preferences for adaptation mechanisms to climate change and variability with its respective barriers are recommended.