Abstract:
This research was aimed at examining adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to climate
variability with special reference to dwellers around Chilga district. The study has adopted
an approach known as composite index that consists of various indicators of adaptive
capacity following the sustainable livelihoods framework and captured household’s adaptive
capacity relative to other households. Factor analysis was also accomplished to identify key
adaptive capacity indicator. Perception of rural households on climate variability was also
measured employing median as measure of central tendency and Inter Quartile Range as
measure of dispersion. In view of farmer’s perception on climate variability, most of them
believed with the strong agreement that climate change leads to crop yield reduction,
negatively affects livelihood and is a cause for prevalence of local stress .Majority of
respondents also reached an agreement that all other harmful effects emphasized over were
effects of climate variability and were affecting their livelihood as well. Despite minor
disparity of adaptive capacity among 118 rural households under study, primary and
secondary data source were used, the finding verified that farm households living in midland
and lowland have no statistically significant (p>0.05) adaptive capacity. Employing factor
analysis, only five (economic resource, social capital, technology, human capital and
infrastructure) out of the total 6 considered indicators were identified as key adaptive
capacity indicators that influence adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to climate
variability. Hence, the findings of the research under study has recommended the
enhancement of adaptive capacity of rural households through design and implementing
diversified livelihood alternatives, capacity building training for improved agricultural
technology, better income generation schemes, enhancement of infrastructural services ,
make credit services and technology available and accessible to smallholder farmers
targeting households without disparity between different agro ecological zones.
