Climate is a primary determinant of agricultural productivity. Ethiopia, one of the developing countries, is facing serious natural resource degradation problems. Adaptation strategies for environmental conservation require cooperation and local participation in environmental rehabilitation which in turn requires examining the local peoples’ willingness, beliefs, knowledge, attitude, interest and perception about climate change and conservation agriculture. The main objective of this study was to examine the farmer’s perceptions and adaptation to climate change and participation in conservation agriculture. The data used for the study were collected from 142 farm households heads drawn from the five kebeles of Sasiga district and four kebeles of Guto Gida district. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire. In addition, secondary data were extracted from relevant sources to supplement the data obtained from the survey.
In addition to descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and percentages used, Heckman two stage sample selection model was employed to examine farmer’s perceptions and adaptations of climate change. Farmers level of education, household nonfarm income, livestock ownership, extension on crop and livestock, households credit availability, temperature and precipitation were those variables which significantly affect the adaptation to climate change. Similarly, the farmers perception of climate change was affected significantly by information on climate, farmer to farmer extension, local agro -ecology, number of relatives in development group and perception of change in duration of season. A binary logit model was employed to analyze determinants of farmers’ participation in conservation agriculture. Education level of the household head, number active family labour and main employment of the household head were significant variables in determining participation in conservation agriculture.
Based on the results obtained, the following points were found to be of paramount importance: the government and policy makers should encourage the way farmers get extension on crop and livestock than ever in order to increase the farmer’s adaptability to climate change. Perceiving the occurrence of climate change is prerequisite to adapt to the change. So, the government, policy makers, and NGOs should focus on the experience sharing between household farmers through conducting farmer to farmer extension.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
1.2. Statement of the problem
1.3. Objective of the study
1.4. Significances of the study
1.5. Scope of the study
1.6. Organization of the paper
2. LITERATURE REARVIEW
2.1. Theoretical Review
2.1.1. Conservation Agriculture
2.1.2. Climate Change
2.1.3. Conservation Agriculture and Climate Change
2.2. Empirical Review
2.2.1. Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change
2.2.2. Adaptation of Climate Change
2.2.3. Adoption of Conservation Agriculture
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
3.1. Description of the Study Area
3.1.1. Location
3.1.2. Demographic Characteristics
3.1.3. Climate
3.1.4. Soil Type of the Study Area
3.1.5. Natural Resource Base
3.1.6. Major Crops Grown and Land Cultivated
3.1.7. Environmental Conservation Practices
3.2. Sources of Data and Methods of Data Collection
3.2.1. Type and Sources of Data
3.2.2. Methods of Data Collection
3.3. Sampling Technique and Sample Size
3.3.1. Sampling Technique
3.3.2. Sample Size
3.4. Econometric Model Specification
3.4.1. Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation to Climate Change
3.4.2. Farmers’ Participation in Conservation Agriculture
4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1. Descriptive Statistics
4.2. Conservation Agriculture as Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change
4.3. Results of the Econometric Model
4.3.1. Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation to Climate Change
4.3.2. Farmers’ Participation in Conservation Agriculture
5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1. Summary
5.2. Conclusion
5.3. Recommendation
Objectives and Core Topics
This study investigates the interplay between farmers' perceptions of climate change and their subsequent adoption of conservation agriculture as an adaptation mechanism in the Guto Gida and Sasiga districts of Ethiopia. The research aims to identify the socio-economic and environmental determinants that drive these perceptions and behavioral changes, ultimately providing a scientific foundation for better agricultural policy and extension strategies.
- Farmers' perception and psychological attitude toward climate change.
- Econometric analysis of climate change adaptation and conservation agriculture participation.
- Evaluation of soil fertility and water management practices as climate resilience strategies.
- Impact of extension services and social capital on farming decision-making.
- Identification of barriers to adopting sustainable land management.
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1.1. Background of the study
Throughout the world today, depletion of natural resources is among the major problems facing human beings (Abera, 2003). Agriculture places heavy burden on the environment in the process of providing humanity with food and fiber, while climate is the primary determinant of agricultural productivity (Bruce et al., 2001 and Apata et al., 2009).
Ethiopia, one of the developing countries, is facing serious natural resource degradation problems (Anemut, 2006). One of the main features of the country is the diversity in altitude and accompanying climatic and ecological variations (Shibru & Kifle, 1998). According to Anemut (2006) environmental damage hamper development through reducing the level of welfare of the society by depleting environmental resources, reducing the quality of environment and decreasing long term productivity.
One of Ethiopia's principal natural resources is its rich endowment of agricultural land. Agriculture which constitutes 46 percent of GDP directly supports about 85 percent of the population in terms of employment and livelihood; contributes about 50 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP); generates about 88 percent of the export earnings; and supplies around 73 percent of the raw material requirement of agro-based domestic industries (Shimelles et al., 2009). However, Land degradation, especially soil erosion, soil nutrient depletion and soil moisture stress, is a major problem confronting Ethiopia. The proximate causes of land degradation include cultivation of steep slopes and erodible soils, low vegetation cover of the soil, burning of dung and crop residues, declining fallow periods, and limited application of organic or inorganic fertilizers (Berhanu, 2004).
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the significance of agriculture to the Ethiopian economy and the pressing challenges posed by climate change and natural resource degradation in the study districts.
2. LITERATURE REARVIEW: Provides a theoretical and empirical foundation regarding the principles of conservation agriculture, climate change dynamics, and existing research on adaptation strategies.
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES: Details the study area, data collection processes, sampling techniques, and the econometric models (Heckman and binary logit) used for analysis.
4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION: Presents the descriptive findings and the results of the econometric models analyzing the determinants of climate perception and agricultural participation.
5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Synthesizes the findings of the study and proposes actionable policy recommendations to enhance climate adaptation and agricultural productivity.
Keywords
Climate change, Conservation agriculture, Agricultural productivity, Land degradation, Soil erosion, Heckman selection model, Binary logit model, Adaptation strategies, Smallholder farmers, East Wollega, Ethiopia, Extension services, Resource management, Sustainable farming, Socio-economic determinants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on examining how farmers in the Guto Gida and Sasiga districts perceive climate change and whether these perceptions influence their decision to participate in conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy.
What are the central themes discussed in the study?
The central themes include agricultural productivity, land degradation, climate change awareness, soil fertility management, and the role of social and economic factors in technological adoption.
What is the core objective of the research?
The main objective is to identify the factors influencing farmers' perceptions and adaptations to climate change and to analyze the determinants of their participation in conservation agriculture.
Which scientific methods were applied?
The study utilized a structured household survey for primary data collection and employed the Heckman two-stage selection model and a binary logit regression model for econometric analysis.
What does the main body cover?
The main body provides a detailed literature review, a comprehensive description of the study area, the research methodology, and a thorough discussion of findings derived from descriptive and econometric analyses.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Climate change, Conservation agriculture, Adaptation, Smallholder farmers, Heckman model, Ethiopia, and Agricultural extension.
How does education affect the farmers' behavior?
The study finds that higher levels of education positively influence a farmer's ability to analyze information, leading to a greater likelihood of adopting climate adaptation measures and conservation techniques.
What role does livestock ownership play in adaptation?
Livestock ownership is identified as an indicator of wealth, which provides the financial capital necessary for farmers to invest in soil conservation and other climate-smart agricultural practices.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Urgessa Tilahun (Autor:in), 2013, Farmers Perception of Climate Change and Conservation Agriculture in Western Ethiopia, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/294030
