Thirteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

This study identifies different climate change adaptation measures implemented by farm households and evaluates the effect of these adaptation strategies on food security of these households in the Gedeo zone, SNNP, Ethiopia by using cross sectional data from 400 sample farm households. We have used endogenous switching regression model supported by propensity score matching methods to evaluate the impact of adoption of climate change adaptation measures on food consumption calorie intake and binary food security status. Secondary data is also obtained from Gedeo zone agricultural offices, national metrology agency and different reports. Results show that the socioeconomic, demographic, and biophysical factors like age of the household head, marital status, farm income, non-agricultural income, landholding size, climate change information access, credit access, fertility of the soil and agro-ecology are the major determinants of farm household’s decision to implement adaptation measures. The average food consumption calorie intake is higher for the adopter compared to the non-adopter. The effect of adoption is slightly higher for the non-adopter farm households relative to the adopter farm households. Thus, policies and development plan which encourage adoption of climate change adaptation options should be focusing to improve food security status of the farm households in the study area.