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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.
Helen Teshome; Kindie Tesfaye; Nigussie Dechassa; Tamado Tana; Matthew Huber. Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Adaptation Practices for Maize Production in Eastern Ethiopia. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9622 .
AMA StyleHelen Teshome, Kindie Tesfaye, Nigussie Dechassa, Tamado Tana, Matthew Huber. Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Adaptation Practices for Maize Production in Eastern Ethiopia. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (17):9622.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHelen Teshome; Kindie Tesfaye; Nigussie Dechassa; Tamado Tana; Matthew Huber. 2021. "Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Adaptation Practices for Maize Production in Eastern Ethiopia." Sustainability 13, no. 17: 9622.
Low soil fertility and climate change-induced low soil moisture are major problems constraining potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia. Climate events are projected to become more pervasive. Therefore, research was conducted with the objective of analyzing smallholder potato farmers’ adaptation strategies to cope with the issues of low soil fertility and low soil moisture that are exacerbated by climate change. The research involved surveying eight purposively selected peasant associations in four major potato-producing districts in east and west Hararghe zones. The survey employed a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected from 357 households using a standard questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, index ranking, and analysis of variance for survey data. The observed climate data for the period of 1988 to 2017 were analyzed. The Mann-Kendall trend test, standard anomaly index, precipitation concentration index, and coefficient of variation were used to analyze the observed climate data. The survey results revealed the farmers, on average, applied 159 kg urea, 165 kg NPS (63 kg P2O5, 31 kg N and 12 kg S), and 1.8 ton of farmyard manure per hectare for producing potatoes. Most smallholder farmers (68.91%) used supplemental irrigation for potato production during the main growing season. The method of irrigation the farmers used was overwhelmingly the furrow method (92.72%). Analyzing the climate data showed that the mean annual temperature increased whereas the mean annual rainfall decreased during the 30-year period. It was concluded that climate change is markedly affecting potato production; in response to this, most of the farmers used supplemental irrigation to cope with moisture stress, all of them applied mineral fertilizers, and some of them additionally applied organic fertilizer to alleviate the problems of soil degradation and nutrient depletion. This implies that soil moisture and nutrient stresses are the major problems constraining potato production against which the farmers need policy and institutional supports to consolidate their coping strategies and build resilience against climate change.
Ashenafi Woldeselassie; Nigussie Dechassa; Yibekal Alemayehu; Tamado Tana; Bobe Bedadi. Soil and Water Management Practices as a Strategy to Cope with Climate Change Effects in Smallholder Potato Production in the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6420 .
AMA StyleAshenafi Woldeselassie, Nigussie Dechassa, Yibekal Alemayehu, Tamado Tana, Bobe Bedadi. Soil and Water Management Practices as a Strategy to Cope with Climate Change Effects in Smallholder Potato Production in the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6420.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAshenafi Woldeselassie; Nigussie Dechassa; Yibekal Alemayehu; Tamado Tana; Bobe Bedadi. 2021. "Soil and Water Management Practices as a Strategy to Cope with Climate Change Effects in Smallholder Potato Production in the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6420.
Potato is mainly tagged as a food security crop in Ethiopia. However, its productivity remains low due to low adoption of improved technologies by smallholder farmers. Duration models, namely, Parametric (Weibull) and Non-parametric (Kaplan Meier) were used to analyze the data gathered from 365 sample farmers. The Non-parametric result revealed that the average duration that potato growers should wait before adopting a new variety is about 3.5 years. The Weibull regression indicated that timely availability of seed, access to labor and irrigation water, land size, and adaptation strategy by farmers are found to be factors curtailing the timeframe to adopt improved potato varieties. The regression analysis revealed that costs of inputs such as manure and compost, environmental and market factors such as drought, pest and disease outbreaks, price variability of potato seed, and quality of potato seed were found to be factors influencing adoption decisions of improved potato varieties by smallholder farmers.
Sisay Lemessa; Molla Alemayehu; Megersa Daksa; Nigussie Dechassa. Adoption Spells of Improved Potato Varieties by Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Ethiopia: The Duration Approach. Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego 2019, 19(34), 103 -118.
AMA StyleSisay Lemessa, Molla Alemayehu, Megersa Daksa, Nigussie Dechassa. Adoption Spells of Improved Potato Varieties by Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Ethiopia: The Duration Approach. Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego. 2019; 19(34) (2):103-118.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSisay Lemessa; Molla Alemayehu; Megersa Daksa; Nigussie Dechassa. 2019. "Adoption Spells of Improved Potato Varieties by Smallholder Farmers in Eastern Ethiopia: The Duration Approach." Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW w Warszawie - Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego 19(34), no. 2: 103-118.