Community awareness, perceived impacts and local adaptation strategies toward climate change in Liben Chukala District, Ethiopia

Purpose This study aims to assess community awareness, perceived impacts and adaptation strategies to climate change in Liben Chukala District, Ethiopia, focusing on the vulnerabilities of subsistence-farming households and identifying measures to strengthen local resilience. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 167 households selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Quantitative analyses, including descriptive and inferential statistics, were conducted using SPSS 22 to examine levels of awareness, perceived climate impacts, coping mechanisms and adoption of adaptation strategies. Findings Results indicated that 64.1% of farmers were aware of climate change, whereas 35.9% lacked a clear understanding. Over the past 30 years, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and recurrent droughts have negatively affected crop and livestock productivity. Key impacts include drought (41.9%), pests and diseases (27.5%), poverty (20.4%), severe soil erosion (77.2%), forest loss (72.5%) and water scarcity (83.8%), with women and children identified as the most vulnerable. Farmers’ coping strategies – such as asset sales (25%), borrowing money (21.6%), meal reduction (11.4%), firewood/charcoal sales, seasonal migration and wage labor – help short-term survival but often increase long-term risk. Adaptation measures adopted include crop diversification (85.6%), drought-tolerant varieties (71.3%), soil and water conservation (79.6%), livestock management (47.9%) and agroforestry (48.5%), although adoption is limited by land and resource constraints. Originality/value This study provides comprehensive empirical evidence on climate change awareness, impacts and adaptation strategies at the district level in Ethiopia. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including expanding irrigation infrastructure and improving access to credit and essential inputs, to enhance the resilience of smallholder farming communities.