Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

The study examines the factors that affect farmers’ choice of adopting different climate change adaptation measures in Gedeo zone, Ethiopia. It is based on a cross sectional data from 400 randomly selected sample farm households. We employ multivariate probit regression model to identify the factors determining households’ options of adaptation measures to climate change and variability. The study describes the perceptions of farmers to climate change and adaptation measures at the farm household level. The results find five significant climate change adaptation strategies viz., agro-forestry, soil and water conservation, small-scale irrigation, crop diversification and adjusting planting date which are adopted by farmer households. Findings indicate that various socioeconomic, biophysical and institutional factors determine adaptation options to climate change. The study suggests the significance of formulating different information opportunities such as local climate forums, networks, accessing to media centers and farmers training centers which can significantly increase farm-level adaptation. Therefore, policies and development plan which encourage adoption of climate change adaptation options must take these factors into account to reduce the climate repercussion.