Agriculture is a sector that is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change while contributing to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Therefore, applying Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices (referee hereafter as CSA technologies) that can sustainably boost productivity, improve resilience, and lower GHG emissions are crucial for a climate resilient agriculture. This study sought to identify the CSA technologies used by farmers and assess adoption levels and factors that influence them. A cross-sectional survey was carried out gather information from 384 smallholder farmers in the Great Rift Valley (GRV) of Ethiopia. Data were analyzed using percentage, chi-square test, t test, and the multivariate probit model. Results showed that crop diversification, agroforestry, and integrated soil fertility management were the most widely practiced technologies. The results of the chi-square and t tests showed that there are differences and significant and positive connections between adopters and non-adopters based on various attributes. The chi-square and t test results confirmed that households who were older and who had higher incomes, greater credit access, climate information access, better training, better education, larger farms, higher incomes, and more frequent interactions with extension specialists had positive and significant associations with CSA technology adopters. The model result showed that age, sex, and education of the head; farmland size; livestock ownership; income; access to credit; access to climate information; training; and extension contact influenced the adoption of CSA technologies. Therefore, considering barriers to the adoption of CSA technologies, in policy and action is anticipated to support smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change while lowering GHG emissions.

Climate change and variability is affecting maize (Zea mays L.) production in eastern Ethiopia but how farmers perceive the challenge and respond to it is not well documented. A study was conducted to analyze smallholder maize farmers’ perception of climate change/variability and identify their adaptation approaches and barriers for adaptation in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Meteorological data were assessed to provide evidence of the perceived change. A survey was conducted in six major maize-producing kebeles with a total of 364 respondents. A multi-stage sampling method was employed for selecting the sample units for the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model. The results indicated that 78% of the sampled smallholder maize farmers perceived increasing temperatures while 83% perceived decreasing amounts of rainfall. About 75% of the farmers indicated that they became aware of climate change and variability from their own experience and perceived deforestation as the main cause. The farmers perceived that drought, diseases and pests, dwindling soil fertility, and declining crop yields were the major impacts of climate change that affected maize production. The farmers’ major adaptation practices include adjusting planting dates, using improved maize varieties, intercropping, recommended mineral fertilizers, supplementary irrigation, and soil and water conservation measures. Econometric analysis revealed that low educational level, shortage of land, large family sizes, age, lack of access to irrigation water, lack of access to credit, and lack of access to extension services were the most important barriers to climate change adaptation in the area. It is concluded that farmers cultivating maize in the study area have perceived climate change and use certain adaptation strategies to counter its negative impacts on maize production. This implies that policies should be geared towards strengthening farmers’ efforts to adapt to climate change and alleviate the existing barriers in promoting adaptation strategies for enhancing the productivity of maize.

Smallholder farmers in East and West Hararghe zones, Ethiopia frequently face problems of climate extremes. Knowledge of past and projected climate change and variability at local and regional scales can help develop adaptation measures. A study was therefore conducted to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of rainfall and temperature in the past (1988–2017) and projected periods of 2030 and 2050 under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) at selected stations in East and West Hararghe zones, Ethiopia. To detect the trends and magnitude of change Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were employed, respectively. The result of the study indicated that for the last three decades annual and seasonal and monthly rainfall showed high variability but the changes are not statistically significant. On the other hand, the minimum temperature of the ‘Belg’ season showed a significant (p < 0.05) increment. The mean annual minimum temperature is projected to increase by 0.34 °C and 2.52 °C for 2030, and 0.41 °C and 4.15 °C for 2050 under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. Additionally, the mean maximum temperature is projected to change by −0.02 °C and 1.14 °C for 2030, and 0.54 °C and 1.87 °C for 2050 under RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. Annual rainfall amount is also projected to increase by 2.5% and 29% for 2030, and 12% and 32% for 2050 under RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. Hence, it is concluded that there was an increasing trend in the Belg season minimum temperature. A significant increasing trend in rainfall and temperature are projected compared to the baseline period for most of the districts studied. This implies a need to design climate-smart crop and livestock production strategies, as well as an early warning system to counter the drastic effects of climate change and variability on agricultural production and farmers’ livelihood in the region.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food security crop in Ethiopia. However, low soil fertility and the use of haphazard nitrogen (N) fertilizer with little attention to the rate and timing of N application constrain productivity. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons to investigate the response of maize to different N application rates and timings. The treatments consisted of six N fertilizer rates (0, 23, 46, 69, 92, and 115 kg N ha⁻¹) and four application timings (all at vegetative stages; one‐half at sowing + one‐half at vegetative stages; one‐third at sowing + one‐third at vegetative stages + one‐third at tasseling; one‐fourth at sowing + two‐fourths at vegetative stages + one‐fourth at tasseling). The experiments were a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The results of the study revealed that ears per plant, ear length, grains per row, grains per ear, stover, and grain yield were significantly (p ≤ .001) influenced by the interaction effects of N application rates and timings. The highest stover (9.99 t ha⁻¹) and grain yield (9.41 t ha⁻¹) were obtained from the application of 92 kg N ha⁻¹ in three split applications of one‐fourth at sowing, one‐half at vegetative stages, and one‐fourth at tasseling. Therefore, it is concluded that 92 kg N ha⁻¹ in three split applications of one‐fourth at sowing, two‐fourths at vegetative stages, and one‐fourth at tasseling was found to be the most economical in the study area.

Efficient maize-faba bean intercropping system for optimum grain yield and productivity is needed in order to use the limited land and to enhance food security of the smallholder farmers. A field experiment was conducted at Haramaya, eastern Ethiopia during the 2018 and 2019 main cropping seasons to determine the effect of variety and spatial arrangement on a maize-faba bean intercropping system on yield components and yields of the component crops and the productivity of the system. The treatments consisted of the recommended 100% plant populations of maize (Baate) variety intercropped with 50% of the recommended density of four faba bean varieties (Yeferenji Baqela, Yehabesha Baqela, Batte and Gachena). The component crops were sown at three levels of spatial arrangements (1:1 1:2 and 2:2), whereas sole maize and the four faba beans were sole-planted. The treatments were laid out as a randomized complete block design with three replications in factorial approach. The results revealed that cropping season affected all the maize variables-cropped. Sole-cropped maize gave the higher grain yield (5.91 t ha⁻¹) compared to intercropping system. Maize intercropped with 2:2 spatial arrangements gave the highest grain yield (5.37 t ha⁻¹). Sole-cropped faba bean gave higher seed yield (2.04 t ha⁻¹) than intercropped faba bean. The 1:1 spatial arrangement was superior in number of pods per plant (5.27), aboveground dry biomass (3.81 t ha⁻¹), and seed yield (0.86 t ha⁻¹) to the other spatial arrangements. Variety Gachena was superior to the other varieties in number of pods per plant (5.49), above ground dry biomass (3.77 t ha⁻¹), seed yield (0.88 t ha⁻¹). Land equivalent ratio (LER) was unaffected by variety differences; however, a 26.8% yield advantage was achieved at 1:1 spatial arrangement in which the highest LER (1.268) value was obtained. The highest gross monetary value (GMV) (96,308 ETB ha⁻¹), maize equivalent yield (MEY) (6420.53 kg ha⁻¹) and monetary advantage index (MAI) (17,506) was obtained from Gachena variety. A 1:1 spatial arrangement gave the maximum GMV (94,162 ETB ha⁻¹), MEY (6277.49 kg ha⁻¹) and MAI (18,761). Therefore, it is concluded that intercropping of Gachena variety in a 1:1 spatial arrangement with maize resulted in the highest productivity and economic advantage for the farmers of the study area.

Poor soil fertility is among the major factors that limit faba bean production in Wolaita Zone in southern Ethiopia. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in the Kokate Marachare subdistrict of Sodo Zuria District of the zone during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons to determine the response of faba bean to different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers under lime-treated soil conditions by using Tumsa faba bean variety. The treatments consisted of three rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 23, and 46kgNha⁻¹), three rates of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 46, and 92kgP₂O₅ ha⁻¹), and three rates of potassium fertilizer (0, 30, and 60kgK₂O ha⁻¹) that were laid out as RCBD and replicated three times per treatment. The results indicated that the N, P, and K fertilizer combination at 23:92:60kgha⁻¹ increased plant height, the number of branches per plant, and stem girth by 18, 62.6, and 55.6, respectively, compared with the control treatment. A significantly high aboveground dry biomass (11.8tha⁻¹), number of pods per plant (17 pods), number of seeds per pod (4 pods), stover yield (6.83tha⁻¹), and hundred seed weight (88g) were obtained from the N, P, and K fertilizer combination at 23:92:60kgha^–1. The highest grain yield (4.97tha⁻¹) was obtained from the N, P, and K combination at 23:92:60kgha⁻¹, which was 360 higher than the yield obtained from the control treatment. Moreover, the highest mean net benefit (USD 4,109.33ha⁻¹) with an acceptable marginal rate of return of 1,340 was obtained from the N, P, and K fertilizer combination at 23kgN, 92kgP₂O₅, and 60kgK₂Oha^–1, respectively. Thus, these rates are suggested for faba bean production in the acidic soils of the Wolaita Zone.