Assessment of farmers’ local adaptation strategies to climate variability impacts in Hulbarag district Ethiopia

The study aims to assess the local adaptation measures used by farmers to cope with the impacts of climate variability in the Hulbarag district, Silte zone, central Ethiopia. Purposive, stratified, and systematic random sampling techniques were employed to collect primary data from a household survey of 207 household heads through well-administered questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The weighted average index method and multinomial logistic regression were used for analyzing farmers’ adaptation index and determinants of adaptation efficacy status. The findings show that 83.5% of the participants have responded to the impacts of climate variability by utilizing at least one adaptation technique. However, 16.5% of the participants didn’t employ any type of adaption technique. Fertilization and manure application, migration, and rainwater harvesting were the three most common adaptation strategies. Yet, 46% of respondents indicated that their adaptation measures are not effective at reducing the negative consequences of climate variability. The effectiveness of adaptation is significantly influenced by agroecological zones, farmers’ perceptions of the effects of climate variability, and their trust in climate information. Lack of input resources, lack of information, and lack of water have been identified as major obstacles to adaptation efforts. Programs aimed at improving the climate resilience of maize and wheat-growing communities should pay close attention to the value of reliable climate information, improving input resources access and adaptation skills. It is also advised to improve adaptation capacity in the research area’s agroecological zones under site-specific alternative priorities. The use of indigenous drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum should be encouraged to help farmers who grow maize and wheat meet their food needs and maintain their livelihoods during the dry spell.