Abstract:
The study was conducted in Dara Malo Woreda of Gamo Zone in Southern Ethiopia to understand farmer perception of climate variability and factors influencing intensity of adoption of adaptation strategy. The study used multistage sampling procedures to select 145 sample households. Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained using primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected by using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion, and key informants interview. Secondary data on temperature and rainfall for the period 1990-2019 were also obtained from Ethiopia National Meteorological Agency Hawassa station. The collected climate data were analyzed by using Man Kendal trend test and Sen’s slop estimation and primary data analyzed by using descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. Based on the pre-test result the selected adaptation strategies that the respondents used in response to climate variability were the use of drought resistance varieties, agroforestry practice, early maturing crops, off-farm activity, small scale irrigation, updated planting date, and forage for livestock feeding. The farmer’s perception analysis shows that, majority of the respondents perceived an increase in shortening of rainy season, an incidence of scarcity of water, and an increase in higher temperature in the past decade (1990-2019). The analysis of climate data revealed that the Sen‘s slope estimated result for the annual rainfall amount increased 11.5mm/yea and for the Summer rainfall amount increased 24.83mm/year. The Mann-Kendall trend test result of the annual and summer rainfall was statistically positive and significant at the 1% level. The result of Tobit model analysis result showed that out of eleven explanatory variables, six explanatory variables namely household size, educational level of households’ head; extension contact, training, access credit, and membership in the social organization were positively and significantly affected the intensity of adoption of climate variability adaptation strategies. Majority of respondents used adaptation strategies to response climate variability in the study area were drought-resistant varieties and agroforestry practice. Therefore, strengthening interventions of climate variability adaptation strategies like a demonstration of drought-tolerant crop variety and agroforestry practice should be integral to enhance the adoption of climate variability adaptation strategies.
