Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Food Security and Farmers Adaptation Strategies in Gubalafto Woreda, North Wollo, Ethiopia

Fentaw, Alemu Eshetu (2011) Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Food Security and Farmers Adaptation Strategies in Gubalafto Woreda, North Wollo, Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Climate change and variability is an emerging serious global environmental problem affecting many sectors in the world. In many areas of Ethiopia, it is affecting the status of food security by causing crop failure, drought, and flood. This study was conducted to assess the status of climate change and variability and its impact on food security in line with farmers’ adaptation strategies by taking two villages in Gubalafto Woreda of North Wollo. Both primary and secondary sources were used. Primary data was obtained using household questionnaire (from 100 households), focus group discussions, and key informants interviews. The results showed that the major livelihood activities are crop farming and livestock rearing, being climate dependent. From the survey, it was noted that most of the respondents were not food self sufficient and food aid was the major source of additional food requirement. Finding showed that both perception and analysis of climate data indicated change in temperature, rainfall amount, rainfall timing, and increase in frequency of drought. The empirical analysis of rainfall suggested declining rainfall trends. Onwards 2001, except for 2005 and 2006, annual rainfall of the area has shown decreasing trend from the average annual rainfall. The average maximum and minimum temperatures are increasing by 0.0250c and decreasing by 0.020c. The changes have resulted in depleting of water resources and declining agriculture productions and, thereby, having negative effects on food security. Sources of household’s vulnerability were assessed and vulnerability induces were developed. Low educational level of head of households, temporal and chronic illness, small land ownership, lack of access to means of information as well as climate information, and limited participation of households on non-farm source of incomes were identified as major source and indicators of vulnerability. Gubarjja kebeles was found to be more vulnerable than Dorogibr. Though the existing strategies are not enough, farmers are using different adapting and coping strategies. The study suggests that there should be unreserved effort to address the existing challenges through short term and long term measures.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Tim Khabala
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2018 09:06
Last Modified: 18 Sep 2018 09:06
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/5276

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