Vulnerability of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change and Adaptation Practices in South Ari Woreda, South Omo Zone

Abstract

Climate change affects all countries, but disproportionately affects poor people with less adaptive capacity. Hence, adaptation plays a great role in alleviating climate impact. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to climate change in the South Ari woreda. The study sought to analyze climate variability over the past 33 years, to assess current vulnerability and to evaluate adaptation practices implemented in the woreda. To gather reliable data, five kebeles were selected from the woreda using simple random sampling techniques. 363 household heads were selected using a systematic sampling method. Besides, primary data was collected from FGDs, key informants and through field observations. Trend analysis and the chi-square test were used to analyze quantitative data, and qualitative data was analyzed by categorizing data into themes. The linear trend analysis shows an increasing trend of rainfall and temperature in the study area. Integrated vulnerability analysis approach results show that the three sub-agro ecology zones of the woreda are vulnerable to climate variability in different ways. Although it is not enough to reduce their vulnerability, about 26% of household heads tried to implement some climate change adaptation. The chi-square test result shows that age, level of education, income diversity, number of contacts with developmental agents and access to climate information have a significant relation with the implementation of adaptation practices in the study area. Hence, implementation of adaptation practices must be enhanced by the concerned body to reduce vulnerability of the community to climate change and climate variability.