EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY ON RURAL LIVELIHOODS AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES THE CASE OF: -ZIWAY DUGDA WOREDA, ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE

ABSTRACT The study aims to assess the effects of climate change and variability on rural livelihoods, and community`s adaptation strategies and as well as assessing the problems of climate change and variability on rural livelihoods in Ziway Dugda woreda, Arsi zone, Oromia regional state. To achieve the objectives set, appropriate data was collected from three purposively selected sample kebeles based on their agro-ecologic conditions. A total of 123 household heads were selected from the three sample kebeles. In addition, 6 focus group discussions from different socio-economic status and age groups were selected and used as primary sources of information. Key informant interview was conducted with experts from Ziway dugda woreda agriculture and rural development organizations and DAs the finding of the study reveals that some elements of climate (temperature and rainfall) showed inter annual and seasonal variability with slightly increasing trend. The main source of income in the study area is rain fed agriculture which is being adversely affected by unpredictable and decreasing rainfall and high temperature. The effects of climate change and variability on livelihoods of the study area are crop failure, water shortage, livestock disease and human health problems. To adapt to the changing climate of the area, farmers are already practicing long aged coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies along with some government interventions in response to the climate change and variability. Therefore, depending on the finding of the study, the following policy recommendations are forwarded are: increasing farmers’ awareness on how to use agricultural technologies & inputs, restoring the degraded environment, facilitating access to credit services, diversifying source of income, building the capacity of farmers & encouraging community based adaptation strategies as the main poverty reduction approach.