Smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate change and variability in Gedeo Zone, Southeastern Rift Valley escarpments of Ethiopiaty in Southeastern Rift Valley escarpments of Ethiopia

The Southern Rift Valley escarpments of Ethiopia are highly vulnerable to climate change, with smallholder farmers in the Gedeo Zone disproportionately affected. However, comprehensive studies on these impacts remain limited. This study investigated the socio-economic consequences of farmers’ vulnerability to climate-related hazards using mixed methods. Data were collected from 384 farming households. Quantitative data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) model, while qualitative data were examined thematically. Re- sults revealed that 72.65% of smallholder farmers in the study area were highly vulner- able for impact of climate change, with food security and economic stability severely undermined. Although drought and temperature shifts were widely recognized, rain- fall variability emerged as the most critical threat among vulnerable households. This heightened sensitivity translated into statistically significant reductions in household income (p<0.001), consumption (p<0.001), and agricultural production (p<0.001) com- pared to non-vulnerable farmers. Disparities in adaptive capacity were evident, as non- vulnerable farmers had significantly better access to credit and financial resources p<0.001) and moderately stronger social networks (p<0.001). Both groups, however, faced sys- temic barriers in accessing information and training. Specifically, vulnerable farm- ers’ income, consumption and production decreased by 40, 19 and 47% (p<0.001) re- spectively lower than no-vulnerable farmers. The study revealed that coffee producing smallholder farmers in the study region are vulnerable to climate change. This calls ur- gent extension intervention focusing on scaling of accessible, tailored financial services and climate-adaptation funds.