Agricultural Adaptation Practices due to Climate Change

Master's Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Environmental Studies, grade: 4.0, Addis Ababa University, language: English, abstract: This research was conducted with the objective analyzing local level coping and adaptation strategies in the agriculture sector in responses to climate extremes impacts on agricultural production by smallholder farmers in Soddo district of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. The study employed household survey, FGD and KI interview for data collection. Climate change contributed to increased incidence and expansion of crop pests (locusts), reduced crop yield, short length of growing period, change in production season, reduce livestock weight, deterioration of cattle health and death, water scarcity, and shortage of grazing land and feed as major effects in crop and livestock production. Climate has obvious and direct effects on agricultural production. Agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan African is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Climate change is a key concern to Ethiopia since agriculture sector of the country is the most affected sector by climate change. Thus identifying different adaptation options to climatic variation is crucial in designing appropriate coping strategies.