Analysis on Determinants of Adaptation Options to Climate Change of Maize Smallholder Farmers in the South Eastern part of Ethiopia

Abstract

This study focused on identification of perception level and determinant factors that influence some selected adaptation options to climate change on maize growing smallholder farmers in the South Eastern part of Ethiopia. Analysis of the study was based on cross sectional data collected through household survey data. Representative samples of 233 households were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and Multinomial logit equation model were employed to evaluate the level of perception of households on climate change, to identify types of adaptation options given priority by the local community, to examine determinant factors that influence the choice of farmers to employ adaptation options to climate change and to provide suitable policy implications on adaptation options to climate change. Results show that that about 86% of interviewed farm households perceived climate change as rise and hot in temperature and changing of the rainfall in quantity and timing. Econometric analysis result also reveals that; education level, age and gender of the household head, household size, land holding size and access to information have significant and positive influences on households’ decision on employment of various adaptation options to climate change. The study also identified the most prioritized adaptation options by the households which include: soil conservation, off-farm works, fertilizers application, agro-forestry and use of improved seeds. Based on the findings, policies and strategies that encourage participation of farmers in planning and application of adaptation options with bottom-up approach is required for better climate change anticipation instead of focusing on reacting the impacts. This can be achieved through increasing access to credit facilities, comprising climate change in education policy, access to crop insurance schemes, improving agricultural extension system in view of climate change, enhancing farmers’ organization for experiences sharing to strength public adaptation capacity, improving institutional capacity to generate climate information at local level.