Assessment Of Climate Variability And Its Effects On Maize Production By Using Gis And Remote Sensing Technologies: The Case Of Gomma District, Jimma Zone

Abstract

Climate change and variability are the major global environmental challenge affecting agricultural production. The study was focused in Gomma district Jimma zone, Southern Ethiopia. It aimed to assess climate variability and its effects on maize production. Quantitative data were acquired from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Satellite Facility, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia and Agricultural office of Gomma district. Qualitative data were obtained through questionnaire from 365 households’ selected using multi-stage area cluster sampling method from three agro ecological zone. Key informant interview was used to supplement the data found from household survey. Climate data was analyzed using Mann Kendal (MK) test, Sens slope estimator and spatial interpolation techniques; the relations between maize yields and climate data were computed by multiple linear regression model; land suitability analysis were done using multi criteria decision making and weighted overlay analysis method. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to develop a matrix of pairwise comparisons to estimate weighted values of parameters in land suitability for maize production. The results revealed the district has received the spatial variations of annual rainfall varies from 1770.56 to 2158.20mm with coefficient of variation (CV) from 23.63 to 29.93% and mean annual temperature varies from 16.70°C to 18.70°C with 2.14 to 2.55% (CV). The results indicated magnitudes of precipitation in highland and midland area shows statistically insignificant increasing trends; while insignificantly decreasing trends in lowland area and Mean annual temperature of the district shows significant increasing trends at 0.05 confidence level. Land suitability analysis results showed 95% of total area of Gomma district is moderately suitable for maize production. Plantation, agroforestry and forest conservation are applied as mitigation measures and changing varieties of crops, changing cultivation and harvesting times are implemented as adaptation to climate change/variability. Geospatial technologies is useful to detect the changes on our natural environments for further analysis, planning, monitoring and decision making purpose.