Climate change perceptions and adaptation responses among smallholder farmers across three locations in Megech Watershed, Ethiopia

Climate change significantly affects smallholder farmers in Ethiopia who rely on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods. Farmers’ perceptions of climate change can modify their adaptation response decisions. However, there is limited knowledge about the key constraints that hinder the adoption of climate change measures in the Megech watershed. This research aimed to assess the smallholder farmers’ perception regarding climate change and the factors influencing their decision to adopt adaptation measures. This research employed a multi-stage sampling procedure to select a sample of 385 smallholder farmer households. Structured and semi-structured questionnaires were designed to conduct a household survey and focus group discussion for data purposes. Furthermore, this study covered a comparison between the farmers’ perspectives on climate change and the observed climate trends. The data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and logistic regression equation. Results showed that the primary sources for most farmers to get information about climate change were extension workers, radio broadcasts, and religious institutions. The majority of farmers believed that climate change was attributed to deforestation, population growth, and industrialization. Almost all farmers were cognizant of the temperature rise, aligning with the observed trend. However, the perception of the farmers on declining rainfall aligns only with recent rainfall trends. Farmers in the downstream had more experience in adopting climate change resilience strategies than farmers in the mid and upstream. On average, 87% of the farmers applied adaptation measures, including intensive inputs (fertilizers), planting date changes, and improved varieties. The farmers’ adoption of adaptation strategies was hampered by challenges such as limited access to credit and high costs of agricultural inputs. The regression analysis revealed that age, education, extension and credit access, and livestock size significantly affected the decision to adopt adaptation measures. These findings may support policymakers in formulating location-based adaptation measures to enhance resilience to climate change.