Impacts of Climate Variability on Maize and Its Adaptation Practices in Bedele District, Southwestern Ethiopia

Climate change and variability are real global phenomena affecting agriculture, health, water resources, and the environment. This research examines the Effect of Climate Variability on Maize Yield and Household Adaptation Practices in Bedele District, focusing on climate trends, impacts on maize yields, and factors influencing adaptation strategies. Using tools like R insat (7.16), XLSTAT (2018), and Stata (13), data were analyzed from the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI) and Woreda Agricultural Office. Results showed high variability in monthly, belg, and bega rainfall, while annual and kremt rainfall were less variable. The onset of rainfall (93.3%) occurred in April, and 63.3% of end dates fell in November, with less variability in the length of the growing period (LGP). Temperature analyses confirmed minimal variability in monthly, annual, and seasonal temperatures. Regression analyses indicated that the start of the season (SOS), end of the season (EOS), LGP, and kremt rainfall negatively impacted maize yields. Effective adaptation strategies identified included crop diversification, tree planting, irrigation, improved crop varieties, and soil water conservation. These were influenced by factors such as education, farm income, land size, credit access, and climate training. For example, education positively affected crop variety adoption and soil water conservation, while credit access negatively impacted tree planting. Policymakers and farmers should align practices with climate patterns, optimizing onset and end dates for better crop production. Promoting education, extension services, and access to climate training is essential to enhance adaptation strategies.