ASSESSMENT OF ADAPTATION MECHANISMS OF AGRO-PASTORALISTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN OROMIA REGION. ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF KOFELE AND KORE DISTRICTS

Abstract

Climate change is now widely recognized and presents a significant threat to the word and humankind. The scientific data analyzed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) provided strong proof that climate change is occurring as result of human activity leading to GHGs emissions in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, developing countries contribute insignificantly to the global warming, though climate change projections show that they are hardest hit in its consequences. Ethiopia is among the most vulnerable to climate change as its economy base is relied on the agriculture and experiencing drought and flood because of the frequent changed patterns in rainfall and temperature. The livelihoods of subsistence agropastoralists is vulnerable and hampered by the adverse impacts to climate change as they completely depend on mixed farming and utilization of natural resources though locally exercised adaptation mechanisms to respond to the burdens of climate change on which this study paid attention. On the basis of quantitative and qualitative data and the analysis made, this study analyzed the agro-pastoralists’ knowledge and understanding and their adaptation mechanisms to climate change in eight kebeles of Kofele and Kore Districts of Oromia Region. The research result indicated that Extension Workers, the media (radio) and training/workshops organized were main sources of information about climate change to majority of households though significant number of respondents have no information or knowledge about the factors that may possibly necessitate adaptation to climate change. Changes in the climate conditions in the last two decades have caused damages to the socio-economic and environmental fabric of the Agro-pastoralists. The study findings showed that the majority of the surveyed HHs (78 %) perceived that they have witnessed long-term changes in temperature and rainfall and an xi increasing trend in the situation of hot times and decreasing trend of rainy times over the past 20 years. Even though the rainfall and temperature data for some months of the reported years were missed, it has been difficult to observe the trend in the amount during the reported years. But, unpredictable nature and pattern of rainfall distribution with late start and early cease of rainfall from usual condition, torrential and less rainfall during the rainy season, prolonged periods of dry seasons and increased temperatures, were observed as important threats. FGD participants witnessed a change in the climate in terms of late on-set and shortage of rainfall than usual in the years 2005/06 and 2007/08, as well as in 2010/11 there was a prolonged rainfall pattern at Kofele district which resulted in drastic decline of crops yields, quality and price of wheat and barley which compelled agro-pastoralists to sell their livestock and lost their assets. The data obtained from NMSA had also shown a decreasing trend in the amount of rainfall and temperature. The climate data which showed a declining trend of rainfall was in agreement with what the surveyed HHs perceived over the past two decades. The increase in the maximum temperature was again in agreement with the surveyed community members’ perception. However, the decrease in minimum temperature was contrary with the perception of the respondents and with the overall prediction for temperature in the country even though their claim that the temperature in the area has decreased sometimes causing frost and damaging crops was somewhat acceptable in light of the variability of the changes in climate. The study had revealed that the major factors that call for adaptation to climate change were frequent variations in rainfall patterns or distributions (early or late on-set and cease) associated xii with frost and water logging, deforestation and natural resources degradation, lack of awareness and agricultural inputs. It was also disclosed that most respondents had agreed to change crop varieties and planting date, crop and cattle diversifying, implement soil and water conservation practices and tree planting, construct water harvesting for irrigation and provisional migration, etc as options that could be applied to respond toward the long-term climate changes. In response to the changing climate, agro-pastoralists had tried to adjust their livelihoods through strengthening already existing farming practices and actually employed various adaptation mechanisms like sale of domestic animals, planting different trees/seedlings, changing variety of crops, early planting and diversifying crops, reduced feeding amount and time of meals and temporal migration to other places. Even if there was differences in responses about agreed options for adaptation and actually practiced mechanisms, the survey result spelt out that lack of information/knowledge coupled with skill/technology and experience limitations, lack of money and agricultural inputs were the grave constraints that weaken agro-pastoralists’ capability for adaptation to the changing climate. The study result had identified the women, children and elders, the landless, households with large families and small farmland as the most vulnerable groups that have been severely affected by adverse effects of climate change and lack the ability to respond to climate change as result of lack of wealth (land and livestock), empowerment, alternative productive employment and basic assets for means of livelihood, food insecurity, etc. The study also discovered that government and NGOs technical and financial supports in areas of credit and improved agricultural input supplies, market facility, etc, capacity building in terms of awareness creation, education and training, engaging in forestry development and soil and water conservation and access to water xiii resources for irrigation development, etc were cited as crucial actions needed to improve their adaptation mechanisms to climate change.