Fourteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

This study identifies different climate change adaptation strategies implemented by farm households and evaluates the effect of these adaptation strategies on the food security of these households in the Gedeo zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, by using cross-sectional data from 400 sample farm households. We have used the endogenous switching regression model supported by propensity score matching methods to evaluate the impact of adopting climate change adaptation strategies on food consumption calorie intake, and binary food security status. Secondary data is also obtained from Gedeo zone agricultural offices and the national metrology agency. Results show that 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 adopt adaptation strategies. The average food consumption calorie intake is higher for the adopter compared to the non-adopter. The impact of adoption is slightly higher for the non-adopter than the adopter farm households. Thus, policies and development plans that encourage the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies should focus on improving the food security status of farm households in the study area.